JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2021 Apr 2. doi: 10.2196/24623. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Social media has become a ubiquitous part of daily life during the COVID-19 isolation. However, the role of social media use in depression and suicidal ideation of the general public remains unclear. Related empirical studies were limited and reported inconsistent findings. Little is known about the potential underlying mechanisms that may illustrate the relationship between social media use and depression/suicidal ideation during COVID-19.
OBJECTIVE: This study tested the mediation effects of social loneliness and post-traumatic stress (PTSD symptoms) on the relationship between social media use and depressive symptoms/suicidal ideation and the moderation effect of age on the mediation models.
METHODS: We administered a population-based random telephone survey in May and June 2020 when infection control measures were being vigorously implemented in Hong Kong. 1070 adults (658 social media users and 412 non-users) completed the survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and multigroup SEM were conducted to test the mediation and moderation effects.
RESULTS: The weighted prevalence of probable depression was 11.6%; 1.6% had suicidal ideation in the past two weeks. Both moderated mediation models of depressive symptoms (χ2(df)=335.34(62), p<.05, CFI=.94, NNFI=.92, RMSEA=.06) and suicidal ideation (χ2(df)=50.80(34), p<.05, CFI=.99, NNFI=.99, RMSEA=.02) showed acceptable model fit. There was a significantly negative direct effect of social media use on depressive symptoms among older people (β=-.07, p=.04) but not among younger people (β=.04, p=.55). The indirect effect via PTSD symptoms was significantly positive among both younger (β=.09, p=.02) and older people (β=.10, p=.01). The indirect effect via social loneliness was significant among older people (β=-.01, p=.04) but not among younger people (β=.01, p=.31). The direct effect of social media use on suicidal ideation was not statistically significant in both age groups (p>.05). The indirect effects via PTSD symptoms were statistically significant among younger (β=.02, p=.04) and older people (β=.03, p=.01). Social loneliness was not a significant mediator between social media use and suicidal ideation among neither younger nor older people (p>.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Social media may be a ‘double-edged sword’ for psycho-social well-being during COVID-19 and its roles vary across age groups. The mediators identified in this study can be addressed by psychological interventions to prevent severe mental health problems during and after COVID-19.
PMID:33835937 | DOI:10.2196/24623
