Depression among users of social networking sites (SNSs): the role of SNS addiction and increased usage

Donnelly, E. and Kuss, D.J. ORCID: 0000-0001-8917-782X, 2016. Depression among users of social networking sites (SNSs): the role of SNS addiction and increased usage. Journal of Addiction and Preventive Medicine, 1 (2), p. 107. ISSN 2474-5049

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Abstract

Background:
Previous literature suggests that increased usage of social networking sites (SNSs) can have a detrimental effect on mental wellbeing [1,2]. Furthermore, increased SNS usage has been found to result in the development of a new behavioral addiction: SNS addiction [3]. This new form of addiction to social networking is shown to predict depression in users of SNSs [4,5].
Objective:
As the rates of people who use SNSs are rising, the current study aimed to identify relationships between SNS usage, SNS addiction and depression, with a focus on SNSs used today that have not been researched before, namely Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.
Methods:
A cross-sectional online study was conducted on a sample of 103 young adults. Each participant filled out a questionnaire consisting of the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R), Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT), along with general questions relating to SNS use.
Results:
The results of the current study suggest that Instagram use (β = .24, p ≤ .05) and SNS addiction (β = .32, p = .001) were significant predictors of depression. The results also showed that Instagram use predicted SNS addiction (β = .22, p < .05). No such relationship existed between Facebook, Twitter or Snapchat and SNS addiction or depression.
Conclusion:
The results indicated that both Instagram use and SNS addiction were related to depression, and that Instagram use was related to SNS addiction. Results are explained from a uses and gratifications perspective. Further research using longitudinal designs is needed to establish the direction of this relationship.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Addiction and Preventive Medicine
Creators:	Donnelly, E. and Kuss, D.J.
Publisher:	Elnys Group
Date:	November 2016
Volume:	1
Number:	2
ISSN:	2474-5049
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	05 Dec 2016 10:44
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2017 14:09
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29245

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