Social Stress Research Articles

Social media addiction and stress: insights from US Facebook and TikTok consumers

Purpose Social media addiction and stress are global phenomena, but little is known about how Facebook (Gen Y) and TikTok (Gen Z) users in the US experience these issues. For marketers, understanding social media stress sources is essential for effective marketing. Grounded in several theories, this study aims to test a model of psychological motivations – the need to belong and fear of missing out (FOMO) – and two moderators – gender and social media self-control – of addiction and stress. Design/methodology/approach This study used an online survey to collect data from Facebook (n = 320 Gen Y) and TikTok (n = 230 Gen Z) users. Data analysis entailed statistical analysis: structural equation modeling, nonparametric tests and hierarchical multiple regression. Findings Results show the need to belong increases stress among Facebook and TikTok users and social media addiction among Facebook users. On both platforms, consumers’ FOMO increases both addiction and stress. Facebook and TikTok use increases addiction. However, while TikTok does not directly increase stress, Facebook addiction does. Two moderators were found for Facebook users: gender and social media self-control. First, the need to belong-addiction link is stronger for male Facebook users. Second, consumers with a low need to belong and FOMO are less addicted to Facebook with high (vs low) self-control. Originality/value Understanding the detrimental effects of social media on consumers’ mental health in the form of social media stress and addiction requires examining specific platforms like Facebook and TikTok. This study addresses three gaps in the literature on social media: (1) psychological factors, (2) the role of gender and self-control as moderators and (3) the association between Facebook and TikTok use and stress among Gen Y and Gen Z consumers.

Astrocytic pleiotrophin deficiency in the prefrontal cortex contributes to stress-induced depressive-like responses in male mice

Astrocytes are closely linked to depression, and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is an important brain region involved in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the underlying mechanism by which astrocytes within PFC contribute to MDD remains unclear. Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing analyses, we show a significant reduction in astrocytes and attenuated pleiotrophin-protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z1 (PTN-PTPRZ1) signaling in astrocyte-to-excitatory neuron communication in the PFC of male MDD patients. We find reduced astrocytes and PTN in the dorsomedial PFC of male mice with depression induced by chronic restraint and social defeat stress. Knockdown of astrocytic PTN induces depression-related responses, which is reversed by exogenous PTN supplementation or overexpression of astrocytic PTN. The antidepressant effects exerted by astrocytic PTN require interaction with PTPRZ1 in excitatory neurons, and PTN-PTPRZ1 activates the AKT signaling pathway to regulate depression-related responses. Our findings indicate the PTN-PTPRZ1-AKT pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for MDD.

The Shadow Pandemic Contextualised: Albania's Response to Domestic Violence During COVID-19.

Domestic violence (DV) encompasses a pattern of psychological, physical, sexual, financial, and/or emotional abuse, manifesting through assault, threats, and intimidation. Economic and social stressors in conjunction with the COVID-19 pandemic escalated DV cases worldwide, including those in Albania. Socioeconomic vulnerabilities worsened the situation, with DV-related complaints to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Albania increasing by 60% between March and May 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. Despite government efforts through a comprehensive anti-DV strategy, as the pandemic subsided, 2986 Albanian women still reported enduring DV. Using the Contextual Influence in Acculturative Stress (CIAS) framework, this study identified key external and internal contextual factors contributing to DV in Albania. These factors were assessed to evaluate their integration into the national anti-DV policy and their potential for improving the policy's impact. The Albanian government's response focused on four primary areas: legal protection, women's safety, economic well-being, and community awareness. However, many vulnerable groups remained underserved. Furthermore, economic assistance provided was insufficient to address the increased financial strain faced by victims. Educational and awareness campaigns were implemented, but despite these efforts, DV rates persisted at high levels throughout the pandemic. The findings underscore the need for more targeted, comprehensive, and context-sensitive approaches to DV intervention. The Albanian government's anti-DV strategy could be strengthened by addressing micro-level needs, such as tailored counselling, culturally sensitive services, and more robust economic support measures. Incorporating these elements into future policies may better address the structural and cultural barriers that perpetuate DV, particularly among vulnerable populations.

Understanding the Stress Process Among Mexican American Adults aged 50 and older in the United States.

Compared to non-Latino White adults, Mexican Americans in the U.S. are disproportionally exposed to more social, environmental, and economic stress that increase risk for poor physical and mental health outcomes. Despite this, Mexican Americans tend to benefit from a mortality and mental health advantage indicative of unique resilience and risk factors. We assessed stress exposure and appraisals in eight domains among Mexican Americans compared to non-Latino Whites, and evaluated if compared to high acculturation, low acculturation may be associated with lower stress exposure and appraisal in Mexican Americans. We used data from 2,004 participants (49.4% Mexican American; 50.6% non-Latino White; age range = 50 - 92). Stress exposure was the total of endorsed events and stress appraisal was the average reported severity. Poisson and linear regression models tested race/ethnic (and acculturation) differences in exposure and appraisal. There were no differences in the total number of stress exposures between Mexican American and non-Latino White adults (IRR = 1.08 [95% CI: 0.99 - 1.18]), but the types of stress exposures differed. Compared to Mexican Americans, non-Latino Whites consistently endorsed higher stress appraisal (B = 0.23 [SE = .04], p <.0001). Mexican Americans with low acculturation reported lower stress appraisal compared to Mexican Americans with high acculturation (B = -0.45 [SE = 0.05], p <.0001). Results indicate that the stress process among Mexican American adults may differ from traditional propositions and highlight the need for more research on the intricacies of the stress process for Mexican Americans in the U.S.

Experiences of Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence Among Women International Students in Australia.

Sexual violence (SV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) in tertiary institutions have received increased attention in Australia and globally, however, international students have been largely neglected in academic and policy discourse. Little is known about the nature and frequency of SV and IPV experienced by these students, nor what sociodemographic factors are associated with victimization. This article reports on a national cross-sectional survey of 1,491 women international students in Australia. Findings suggest that both SV and IPV are common among women international students and primarily perpetrated by men. Social support, housing stress, and financial insecurity were associated with an increased likelihood of victimization, highlighting critical areas for improvement in government policies and tertiary institutions.

Knowledge and attitudes of Dutch psychiatry residents towards anorexia nervosa

BackgroundStigma significantly hinders treatment seeking, adherence to treatment, referrals, and can prolong recovery, while increasing the risk of relapse due to social exclusion and stress. Stigmatizing attitudes towards anorexia nervosa are widespread, and not only held by the general public, but also by professionals.ObjectiveAs stigmatizing attitudes towards mental disorders often develop early during education and training, the study’s objective was to investigate stigmatizing attitudes towards anorexia nervosa among Dutch psychiatry residents, as well as their mental health literacy.MethodsIn this pilot study, Dutch psychiatry residents (N = 61) were surveyed, with a 49% response rate, using a comprehensive questionnaire that included nine parts, covering multiple stigma domains, disease prestige, knowledge, and professional training.ResultsAnorexia nervosa was ranked 18th in disease prestige with a mean score of 6.23. Although most stigmatizing attitudes were not widely endorsed by psychiatry residents, there were a few notable exceptions, especially attitudes related to blame, fragility and social distance. They characterized patients as insecure, controlling, sad, and defensive, and reported feeling worried, incompetent, pessimistic and anxious when dealing with patients with anorexia nervosa. Only 37% felt confident in diagnosing anorexia nervosa.ConclusionThere is a critical need for further research on the social value ranking of psychiatric disorders and the development of a comprehensive stigma scale, as well as targeted educational interventions. Addressing stigma through focused training programs could lead to better patient outcomes, improved treatment satisfaction, and reduced barriers to care for individuals with anorexia nervosa.

Interpersonal relationships after prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease: Social stressors and supports.

To identify social stressors and supports for expectant parents after prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) and inform interventions to reduce distress. Parents of children diagnosed prenatally with CHD (N = 37) were purposively sampled across eight health systems. Qualitative data were collected using crowdsourcing methods and coded/analyzed using thematic analysis. Social stressors increasing distress after prenatal diagnosis were widely endorsed: (1) feelings of loneliness (most common: 68%), (2) well-meaning yet unhelpful comments, (3) loss of celebration of pregnancy, (4) information overload, and (5) untimely/insensitive discussions surrounding pregnancy termination. Social supports included: (1) emotional support and small acts of kindness, (2) hope/connection through the experiences of others, (3) informational support, (4) nurturing normalcy and the joy of pregnancy, and (5) connection through religion/spirituality. Interpersonal relationships are vital for coping with prenatal diagnosis. Interventions to reduce distress after prenatal diagnosis should attend to common social stressors.

Behavioral tests for the assessment of social hierarchy in mice

Social hierarchy refers to the set of social ranks in a group of animals where individuals can gain priority access to resources through repeated social interactions. Key mechanisms involved in this process include conflict, social negotiation, prior experience, and physical advantages. The establishment and maintenance of social hierarchies not only promote group stability and well-being but also shape individual social behaviors by fostering cooperation and reducing conflict. Existing research indicates that social hierarchy is closely associated with immune responses, neural regulation, metabolic processes, and endocrine functions. These physiological systems collectively modulate an individual’s sensitivity to stress and influence adaptive responses, thereby playing a critical role in the development of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. This review summarizes the primary behavioral methods used to assess social dominance in mice, evaluates their applicability and limitations, and discusses potential improvements. Additionally, it explores the underlying neural mechanisms associated with these methods to deepen our understanding of their biological basis. By critically assessing existing methodologies and proposing refinements, this study aims to provide a systematic reference framework and methodological guidance for future research, facilitating a more comprehensive exploration of the neural mechanisms underlying social behavior. The role of sex differences in social hierarchy formation remains underexplored. Most studies focus predominantly on males, while the distinct social strategies and physiological mechanisms of females are currently overlooked. Future studies should place greater emphasis on evaluating social hierarchy in female mice to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of sex-specific social behaviors and their impact on group structure and individual health. Advances in automated tracking technologies may help address this gap by improving behavioral assessments in female mice. Future research may also benefit from integrating physiological data (e.g., hormone levels) to gain deeper insights into the relationships between social status, stress regulation, and mental health. Additionally, developments in artificial intelligence and deep learning could enhance individual recognition and behavioral analysis, potentially reducing reliance on chemical markers or implanted devices.

Acute psychological stress promotes implicit aggression: Evidence from behavior and ERPs.

Acute stress affects explicit aggressive behavior through two distinct behavioral patterns: "fight or flight" and "tend and befriend". However, the impact of acute stress on implicit aggression remains less explored. We investigated the effect of acute stress on implicit aggression with event-related potentials (ERPs; N2, P2, P3, and N400) measures. A total of 55 healthy individuals were randomly allocated to either the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) group (N = 31, 14 females) or a neutral control group (N = 24, 15 females). Following this, participants completed the Single Target-Implicit Association Test (ST-IAT) while electroencephalogram (EEG) data were collected. We found that acute stress strengthens the associations between self-related words and aggressive words relative to nonaggressive words. At the neural level, N2 and N400 components amplitudes were significantly smaller following the TSST relative to the control group. The compatible task in the ST-IAT elicited alarger P2 amplitude than that inthe incompatible task. Our results support the model of "fight or flight" where humans choose to attack or escape to survive under stress.

Feasibility, Challenges and Lessons Learned: Photovoice Implementation Among Young Women in the Urban Slums in Kampala, Uganda

Photovoice is an established, qualitative participatory method for visualizing and deconstructing complex topics and research questions. We used Photovoice as a research methodology for understanding the proximal and social environmental stressors and their role in mental health equity and outcomes among young women residing in three urban slums in Kampala, Uganda. The Photovoice methodology was selected to encourage active participation and reflection from the women with lived experience to ensure their voices and reflections were captured as part of our overarching project goal. Photovoice has not typically been used in urban slums and similar low-resource settings with young women. Our Photovoice project was conducted in 2022 and engaged 15 women who participated in Uganda Youth Development Drop-in center activities. It comprised facilitated group discussions, photograph reviews, and culminated in a theme validation discussion. We focus on the application and the implementation process specifically of Photovoice, the women’s reactions to the project, and their fears, hopes and learning outcomes to guide others who may choose to implement Photovoice in similar populations and settings. The women found it a very positive experience overall, particularly the social aspects of the training, the discussion of the photos, feeling empowered to reflect on their situations and receipt of compensation. However, they also noted challenges with using the mobile phone and using it to take photos. Qualitative participatory research strategies are important for global health research seeking to improve health equity in urban low-resource settings, particularly with young women with lived experience. However, factors pertaining to the logistics and ethics of implementation strategies need to be thoughtfully considered in the design of these studies and for rigorous training of study participants.

Maternal immune activation followed by peripubertal stress combinedly produce reactive microglia and confine cerebellar cognition

The functional alteration of microglia arises in brains exposed to external stress during early development. Pathophysiological findings of neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder suggest cerebellar functional deficits. However, the link between stress-induced microglia reactivity and cerebellar dysfunction is missing. Here, we investigate the developmental immune environment in translational mouse models that combine two risk factors: maternal infection and repeated social defeat stress (2HIT). We find the synergy of inflammatory stress insults, leading to microglial increase specifically in the cerebellum of both sexes. Microglial turnover correlates with the Purkinje neuron loss in 2HIT mice. Highly multiplexed imaging-mass-cytometry identifies a cell transition to TREM2(+) stress-associated microglia in the cerebellum. Single-cell-proteomic clustering reveals IL-6- and TGFβ-signaling association with microglial cell transitions. Reduced excitability of remaining Purkinje cells, cerebellum-involved brain-wide functional dysconnectivity, and behavioral abnormalities indicate cerebellar cognitive dysfunctions in 2HIT animals, which are ameliorated by both systemic and cerebellum-specific microglia replacement.

Involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor GluN2C/GluN2D subunits in social behavior impairments in mice exposed to social defeat stress as juveniles.

Glutamatergic system dysfunction is associated with the pathophysiology of stress-related psychiatric disorders. However, the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor GluN2C and GluN2D subunits in the pathophysiology of adverse juvenile experiences remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of GluN2C and GluN2D subunits in social behavior impairments in mice exposed to social defeat stress as juveniles. Acute administration of PPDA, a GluN2C/GluN2D antagonist, and ketamine, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, attenuated social behavior impairments in stressed mice. This attenuating effect of ketamine was partially inhibited by the administration of CIQ, a GluN2C/GluN2D-containing NMDA potentiator. The prefrontal cortex of stressed mice exhibited significantly elevated levels of GluN2C and GluN2D proteins compared to control mice. These findings suggest that activation of GluN2C- and/or GluN2D-containing NMDA receptors contributes to the development of social behavioral impairments induced by juvenile social defeat stress. Moreover, these subunits may play a role in the therapeutic effects of ketamine. Targeting GluN2C/GluN2D subunits of NMDA receptors may be novel therapeutic strategies for stress-related psychiatric disorders in adolescents with adverse juvenile experiences.

Divergent changes in social stress-induced motivation in male and female mice.

Divergent changes in social stress-induced motivation in male and female mice.

Alteration of COX-1 and TLR4 expression in the mouse brain during chronic social defeat stress revealed by Positron Emission Tomography study.

Despite the recognized roles of neuroinflammation in mental illnesses, PET imaging on currently available biomarkers has limitations due to the lack of evidence demonstrating their relationship to the molecular and cellular events of inflammation associated with the pathology of mental illness. Rodent stress models, such as chronic social defeat stress (SDS), have identified crucial roles for COX-1 and TLR4, which are innate immune molecules, in chronic SDS-induced neuroinflammation and its behavioral consequences. In this study, we performed COX-1 and TLR4 PET imaging at multiple time points during chronic SDS in mice. For COX-1 PET imaging, we used the COX-1 PET probe (S)-[18F]KTP-Me. Subchronic SDS transiently increased uptake and slower washout in broad regions of the brain, including the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and thalamus. For TLR4 PET imaging, we developed a new BBB-permeable PET probe, [11C]1, which detected LPS-induced neuroinflammation. Washout of [11C]1 was facilitated in the cerebellum after subchronic and chronic SDS and in the pons-medulla after chronic SDS. Collectively, our findings suggest the potential usefulness of COX-1 and TLR4 PET imaging in visualizing and understanding time-dependent process of neuroinflammation in stress-related mental illnesses.

Influenza vaccine uptake in socially deprived areas: A multilevel retrospective population-based cross-sectional study using electronic health records in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Influenza vaccine uptake in socially deprived areas: A multilevel retrospective population-based cross-sectional study using electronic health records in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Politics negatively impacts women's mental health in Georgia: Depression, anxiety, and perceived stress from 2023 to 2024.

Politics negatively impacts women's mental health in Georgia: Depression, anxiety, and perceived stress from 2023 to 2024.

What contributes to recovery in the long term? Young people's experiences with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES).

What contributes to recovery in the long term? Young people's experiences with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES).

Examining maternal social perceptions and stress responses during pregnancy.

Examining maternal social perceptions and stress responses during pregnancy.

The neuroinflammatory effects of Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ receptor activation can be related to depressive-like behavior.

The neuroinflammatory effects of Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ receptor activation can be related to depressive-like behavior.

Dietary texture-driven masticatory activity and its impact on stress tolerance.

Dietary texture-driven masticatory activity and its impact on stress tolerance.