Social Media Use and Mood, Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm in Adolescents

Grazia Maria Giovanna Pastorino, ,Giuseppe Diaspro,Giangennaro Coppola,Roberto Buonaiuto,Francesca Felicia Operto

doi:10.18662/brain/11.3sup1/119

Abstract

Objective: The aim of our observational study was to evaluate depressive symptoms in adolescent population, focusing on suicidal ideation and intentionality, and to establish the relationship between depressive symptoms/self-harm and the average time spent in social media. Methods: Our study was an observational cross-sectional study that involved three Middle Schools and three High Schools in the Campania region of Italy. One thousand three hundred sixty-five students 11-19 years of age were recruited (mean age=15 years; female=51%, male=49%). Percentage of adhesion was 95%. All the subjects were administered three self-report questionnaires, filled out anonymously and in the presence of the teachers after illustrating their validity and purpose. Results: In 23% females and 18% males, depressive symptoms were above the norm, with a slight increase in the prevalence of depressive symptoms in high school students compared to middle school ones. Suicidal intentionality was expressed in 4% of the total sample, with no differences between males and females. Suicidal ideation was present in 14% of the total sample, with a higher prevalence in females than in males (17% vs 10%). We found a significant positive relationship between the depressive symptoms and the hours spent on Social Media, in both males and females. A significant relationship was also found between hours on Social Media and suicidal ideation/intentionality. Conclusions: Our study showed a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in adolescents, in keeping with previous studies. Our study also showed a significant association between the use of social networks and the development of depressive symptoms, as well as suicidal ideation and intentionality. Further studies are needed to investigate the nature of this relationship.

Highlights

The scores obtained at CDI-2, which assessed depressive symptoms, were in the normal range in 77% females, while they were above the norm in 23%
Suicidal ideation (I’m thinking of killing myself) was present in 14% of the total sample, with a higher prevalence in females than in males (17% vs 10%)
Our study showed a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in adolescence, in keeping with previous studies

Summary

Introduction

Depression is a disabling and recurrent disorder, with high prevalence in the general population, that affects 10-25% of women and 512% of men in adulthood.In the last years, in industrialized countries, there has been a trend towards an increase in the prevalence of this disorder and a decrease in the average age of its onset.According to a study of last years, mood disorders was present in 0.3% of preschooler, in 2-3% of children and in 6-8% of adolescents (Avenevoli et al, 2008).Many studies show a continuity of depression throughout the life span; about 80% of children and adolescents with depressive disorder tend to present the same condition even in adulthood (Burlea et al, 2012; Luca et al, 2019).According to WHO, psychiatric disorders, such as mood disorders and depression will be the main reason for mortality and morbility in adolescence, and can lead to poorer psychosocial functioning, lower quality of life and school achievements, more interpersonal difficulty, more comorbid psychiatric conditions, and increased risk of self-injurious behaviors and suicide (World Health Organization, 2001).Depression is a multifactorial etiology disorder in which biological, genetic, environmental and psychological factors contribute. According to a study of last years, mood disorders was present in 0.3% of preschooler, in 2-3% of children and in 6-8% of adolescents (Avenevoli et al, 2008). Many studies show a continuity of depression throughout the life span; about 80% of children and adolescents with depressive disorder tend to present the same condition even in adulthood (Burlea et al, 2012; Luca et al, 2019). According to WHO, psychiatric disorders, such as mood disorders and depression will be the main reason for mortality and morbility in adolescence, and can lead to poorer psychosocial functioning, lower quality of life and school achievements, more interpersonal difficulty, more comorbid psychiatric conditions, and increased risk of self-injurious behaviors and suicide (World Health Organization, 2001). In more recent years researchers investigated the possible association between increasing depressive disorders in children and adolescents and the increased use of digital tools, including the internet, social networks sites and video games (Evans et al, 2005; Costello et al, 2006)

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