Increasing Number of Adolescents in Psychological Treatment: Social Media Usage in Focus

New research shows a strong link between social media use and increased rates of anxiety and depression among teenagers. A comprehensive study by the University of Oxford reveals that approximately 60 percent of teenagers aged 16 to 18 spend two to four hours daily on social networks. Prof. John Gallacher, head of the study in cognitive health, explains: "We observed a linear relationship between the time teenagers spend on social media platforms and the rising rates of anxiety and depression. In extreme cases, young people spend up to eight hours a day on these platforms." Girls, in particular, report psychological issues more frequently than boys. The most commonly used platforms include Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, WhatsApp, and YouTube. The study suggests that especially more sleep and exercise could improve the mental health of this age group. More than 7,000 youths participated in the first phase of the investigation. The full project will follow around 50,000 teenagers in the UK aged 11 to 18 over ten years to create a "unique psychological health profile" of adolescents. According to NHS data, as of March this year, 1.1 million children in England were in contact with NHS-funded mental health services, more than doubling since 2016-17. In particular, girls aged 16 to 17 are most often in treatment. Psychological service use is also rapidly increasing among primary school children. "Mental illness is the biggest public health challenge worldwide," says Gallacher. "The lack of scientific basis is the missing piece of the puzzle. Large cohort studies focusing on the mental health of young people are necessary to bring about positive changes." To close this gap, Gallacher initiated the "BrainWaves" study, a collaboration between the University of Oxford, Swansea University, and The Day, an online news service for young people. The collected data will be made available to researchers worldwide, while the program develops curricula on topics such as coping with change, sleep, and stress. Initial results show that "agency," the sense of control over one's actions, has a strong impact on mental health. High "agency" correlates with lower anxiety and depression rates and higher well-being.