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The Influence of Social Media Content Engagement on Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing: Introducing a New Measure of Social Media Use

Leinonen, Tytti Milla Maarit LU (2025) PSYP01 20251
Department of Psychology
Abstract
This study examined how amount of social media use, type of content and type of engagement relate to adolescent mental health and wellbeing. It also explored whether gender and social comparison orientation moderated these relationships. Using a cross-sectional survey study design, objective screen time data and self-report measures of content (photo, video, and text) and engagement (passive vs. active) type, and mental health (depression, generalised anxiety, and social anxiety) and wellbeing outcomes were collected from 92 Finnish adolescents aged 15- to 19-years. Regression analyses showed that greater social media use was associated with higher depression and lower wellbeing, with no evidence of a curvilinear relationship. Video-based... (More)
This study examined how amount of social media use, type of content and type of engagement relate to adolescent mental health and wellbeing. It also explored whether gender and social comparison orientation moderated these relationships. Using a cross-sectional survey study design, objective screen time data and self-report measures of content (photo, video, and text) and engagement (passive vs. active) type, and mental health (depression, generalised anxiety, and social anxiety) and wellbeing outcomes were collected from 92 Finnish adolescents aged 15- to 19-years. Regression analyses showed that greater social media use was associated with higher depression and lower wellbeing, with no evidence of a curvilinear relationship. Video-based content and passive engagement were significantly related to all negative mental health, but not wellbeing, outcomes, while photo-based and text-based content and active engagement showed no significant relations with mental health and wellbeing. Although gender and social comparison orientation were associated with all mental health, but not wellbeing, outcomes, neither moderated the effects of objectively measured social media use. These findings emphasise the role of both the amount and type of social media use on adolescent mental health and wellbeing. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Leinonen, Tytti Milla Maarit LU
supervisor
organization
course
PSYP01 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
social media, adolescents, mental health, passive use, video content
language
English
id
9207521
date added to LUP
2025-08-11 10:22:48
date last changed
2025-08-11 10:22:48
@misc{9207521,
  abstract     = {{This study examined how amount of social media use, type of content and type of engagement relate to adolescent mental health and wellbeing. It also explored whether gender and social comparison orientation moderated these relationships. Using a cross-sectional survey study design, objective screen time data and self-report measures of content (photo, video, and text) and engagement (passive vs. active) type, and mental health (depression, generalised anxiety, and social anxiety) and wellbeing outcomes were collected from 92 Finnish adolescents aged 15- to 19-years. Regression analyses showed that greater social media use was associated with higher depression and lower wellbeing, with no evidence of a curvilinear relationship. Video-based content and passive engagement were significantly related to all negative mental health, but not wellbeing, outcomes, while photo-based and text-based content and active engagement showed no significant relations with mental health and wellbeing. Although gender and social comparison orientation were associated with all mental health, but not wellbeing, outcomes, neither moderated the effects of objectively measured social media use. These findings emphasise the role of both the amount and type of social media use on adolescent mental health and wellbeing.}},
  author       = {{Leinonen, Tytti Milla Maarit}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Influence of Social Media Content Engagement on Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing: Introducing a New Measure of Social Media Use}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}