Adolescents’ daily social media use and mood during the COVID-19 lockdown period

Adolescents’ relationship to social media (SM) use shifted significantly during the COVID-19 lockdown. However, less is known about how adolescents’ social media use behaviors and mood were associated during this time. This study examined objective (passively sensed) SM use—including ‘screen time’ (...

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Main Authors: Melissa J. Dreier, Simone Imani Boyd, Saskia L. Jorgensen, Ritika Merai, Jennifer Fedor, Krina C. Durica, Carissa A. Low, Jessica L. Hamilton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-01-01
Series:Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622724000170
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author Melissa J. Dreier
Simone Imani Boyd
Saskia L. Jorgensen
Ritika Merai
Jennifer Fedor
Krina C. Durica
Carissa A. Low
Jessica L. Hamilton
author_facet Melissa J. Dreier
Simone Imani Boyd
Saskia L. Jorgensen
Ritika Merai
Jennifer Fedor
Krina C. Durica
Carissa A. Low
Jessica L. Hamilton
author_sort Melissa J. Dreier
collection DOAJ
description Adolescents’ relationship to social media (SM) use shifted significantly during the COVID-19 lockdown. However, less is known about how adolescents’ social media use behaviors and mood were associated during this time. This study examined objective (passively sensed) SM use—including ‘screen time’ (duration of use) and checking (frequency of opening apps), retrospective daily reports of positive and negative affect during SM use, and general negative mood among adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Participants included 19 adolescents (Mean age = 15.8; 37 % female). Bayesian multilevel models examined whether within person-changes in SM ‘screen time’ and checking were associated with 1) retrospectively reported positive and negative affect while using SM and daily duration of SM use, 2) daily reports of overall negative mood. These relationships were examined both within the same day and prospectively (one day's SM behaviors predicting next-day mood and vise versa). On the same day, stronger positive or negative mood during SM use were associated with more SM ‘screen time’ (duration) and checking. Prospectively (next-day models), checking SM more frequently than usual was uniquely associated with within-person increases in adolescents’ positive mood when using SM the next day (p < .05), but not negative mood when using SM the next day. However, neither ‘screen time’ nor checking were associated with general negative mood on the same day or next day. These findings support the notion that SM is rewarding by highlighting that higher-than-usual SM checking is associated with within-person increases in positive mood during use. These findings also add to growing evidence that social media may not be directly tied to adolescents’ general mood state.
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spelling doaj-art-7c93d6e7af85490e9ce7a642d82ee8902025-08-20T02:30:30ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Ecological and Social Psychology2666-62272024-01-01710019610.1016/j.cresp.2024.100196Adolescents’ daily social media use and mood during the COVID-19 lockdown periodMelissa J. Dreier0Simone Imani Boyd1Saskia L. Jorgensen2Ritika Merai3Jennifer Fedor4Krina C. Durica5Carissa A. Low6Jessica L. Hamilton7Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USADepartment of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USADepartment of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USADepartment of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USADepartment of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USADepartment of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USADepartment of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USADepartment of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; Corresponding author at: Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, 50 Joyce Kilmer Road, Tillet Hall, Office 321, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.Adolescents’ relationship to social media (SM) use shifted significantly during the COVID-19 lockdown. However, less is known about how adolescents’ social media use behaviors and mood were associated during this time. This study examined objective (passively sensed) SM use—including ‘screen time’ (duration of use) and checking (frequency of opening apps), retrospective daily reports of positive and negative affect during SM use, and general negative mood among adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Participants included 19 adolescents (Mean age = 15.8; 37 % female). Bayesian multilevel models examined whether within person-changes in SM ‘screen time’ and checking were associated with 1) retrospectively reported positive and negative affect while using SM and daily duration of SM use, 2) daily reports of overall negative mood. These relationships were examined both within the same day and prospectively (one day's SM behaviors predicting next-day mood and vise versa). On the same day, stronger positive or negative mood during SM use were associated with more SM ‘screen time’ (duration) and checking. Prospectively (next-day models), checking SM more frequently than usual was uniquely associated with within-person increases in adolescents’ positive mood when using SM the next day (p < .05), but not negative mood when using SM the next day. However, neither ‘screen time’ nor checking were associated with general negative mood on the same day or next day. These findings support the notion that SM is rewarding by highlighting that higher-than-usual SM checking is associated with within-person increases in positive mood during use. These findings also add to growing evidence that social media may not be directly tied to adolescents’ general mood state.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622724000170Social mediaAdolescentAffectMoodScreen timeSmartphone sensing
spellingShingle Melissa J. Dreier
Simone Imani Boyd
Saskia L. Jorgensen
Ritika Merai
Jennifer Fedor
Krina C. Durica
Carissa A. Low
Jessica L. Hamilton
Adolescents’ daily social media use and mood during the COVID-19 lockdown period
Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology
Social media
Adolescent
Affect
Mood
Screen time
Smartphone sensing
title Adolescents’ daily social media use and mood during the COVID-19 lockdown period
title_full Adolescents’ daily social media use and mood during the COVID-19 lockdown period
title_fullStr Adolescents’ daily social media use and mood during the COVID-19 lockdown period
title_full_unstemmed Adolescents’ daily social media use and mood during the COVID-19 lockdown period
title_short Adolescents’ daily social media use and mood during the COVID-19 lockdown period
title_sort adolescents daily social media use and mood during the covid 19 lockdown period
topic Social media
Adolescent
Affect
Mood
Screen time
Smartphone sensing
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622724000170
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