Social Media Use Linked to Anxiety and Depression, Study Finds

by

Latino young adults on phone mobile social media
Share On Social!

Heavy use of social media by young adults—especially women—may lead to depression according to a recent study, Forbes reports.iStock_000026261440_Small

For the study, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh surveyed more than 1,700 young adults between the ages of 19 and 32 and concluded that those that spend the most time on social media had the highest risk for depression. This was especially the case for women with less education.

“Given the increasing prevalence of social media and the substantial morbidity and mortality associated with depression worldwide, the positive association we found between social media use and depression has important implications for future research and intervention,” the study’s authors wrote.

From the participants surveyed 26% had high indicators for depression and 29% had medium indicators.

On average, Latinas born in the U.S. have higher rates of depression and suicide attempts than non-Hispanic Whites and Blacks.

Explore More:

Healthcare Access

By The Numbers By The Numbers

25.1

percent

of Latinos remain without health insurance coverage

Share your thoughts