Relationship Between Depression and the Use of Mobile Technologies and Social Media Among Adolescents: Umbrella Review

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Abstract

Background

Despite the relevance of mobile technologies and social media (MTSM) for adolescents, their association with depressive disorders in this population remains unclear. While there are previous reviews that have identified the use of MTSM as a risk factor for developing depression, other reviews have indicated their possible preventive effect.

Objective

The aim of this review was to synthesize the current evidence on the association between MTSM use and the development or prevention of depressive disorders in adolescents.

Methods

An umbrella review was conducted using information published up to June 2019 from PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library. Systematic reviews focusing on the adolescent population (up to 20 years old) and depression and its potential relationship with MTSM use were included. Screening of titles, abstracts, and full texts was performed. After selecting the reviews and given the heterogeneity of the outcome variables and exposures, a narrative synthesis of the results was carried out.

Results

The search retrieved 338 documents, from which 7 systematic reviews (3 meta-analyses) were selected for data extraction. There were 11-70 studies and 5582-46,015 participants included in the 7 reviews. All reviews included quantitative research, and 2 reviews also included qualitative studies. A statistically significant association between social media and developing depressive symptoms was reported in 2 reviews, while 5 reviews reported mixed results.

Conclusions

Excessive social comparison and personal involvement when using MTSM could be associated with the development of depressive symptomatology. Nevertheless, MTSM might promote social support and even become a point of assistance for people with depression. Due to the mixed results, prospective research could be valuable for providing stronger evidence.

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Most cited references 21

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Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties.

J Arnett (2000)

Emerging adulthood is proposed as a new conception of development for the period from the late teens through the twenties, with a focus on ages 18-25. A theoretical background is presented. Then evidence is provided to support the idea that emerging adulthood is a distinct period demographically, subjectively, and in terms of identity explorations. How emerging adulthood differs from adolescence and young adulthood is explained. Finally, a cultural context for the idea of emerging adulthood is outlined, and it is specified that emerging adulthood exists only in cultures that allow young people a prolonged period of independent role exploration during the late teens and twenties.

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Social Networking Sites, Depression, and Anxiety: A Systematic Review

Elizabeth Seabrook, Margaret Kern, Nikki Rickard (2016)

Background Social networking sites (SNSs) have become a pervasive part of modern culture, which may also affect mental health. Objective The aim of this systematic review was to identify and summarize research examining depression and anxiety in the context of SNSs. It also aimed to identify studies that complement the assessment of mental illness with measures of well-being and examine moderators and mediators that add to the complexity of this environment. Methods A multidatabase search was performed. Papers published between January 2005 and June 2016 relevant to mental illness (depression and anxiety only) were extracted and reviewed. Results Positive interactions, social support, and social connectedness on SNSs were consistently related to lower levels of depression and anxiety, whereas negative interaction and social comparisons on SNSs were related to higher levels of depression and anxiety. SNS use related to less loneliness and greater self-esteem and life satisfaction. Findings were mixed for frequency of SNS use and number of SNS friends. Different patterns in the way individuals with depression and individuals with social anxiety engage with SNSs are beginning to emerge. Conclusions The systematic review revealed many mixed findings between depression, anxiety, and SNS use. Methodology has predominantly focused on self-report cross-sectional approaches; future research will benefit from leveraging real-time SNS data over time. The evidence suggests that SNS use correlates with mental illness and well-being; however, whether this effect is beneficial or detrimental depends at least partly on the quality of social factors in the SNS environment. Understanding these relationships will lead to better utilization of SNSs in their potential to positively influence mental health.

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Mental Health Mobile Apps for Preadolescents and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Rebecca Grist, Joanna Porter, Paul Stallard (2017)

Background There are an increasing number of mobile apps available for adolescents with mental health problems and an increasing interest in assimilating mobile health (mHealth) into mental health services. Despite the growing number of apps available, the evidence base for their efficacy is unclear. Objective This review aimed to systematically appraise the available research evidence on the efficacy and acceptability of mobile apps for mental health in children and adolescents younger than 18 years. Methods The following were systematically searched for relevant publications between January 2008 and July 2016: APA PsychNet, ACM Digital Library, Cochrane Library, Community Care Inform-Children, EMBASE, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Social Policy and Practice, Web of Science, Journal of Medical Internet Research, Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, and OpenGrey. Abstracts were included if they described mental health apps (targeting depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, self-harm, suicide prevention, conduct disorder, eating disorders and body image issues, schizophrenia, psychosis, and insomnia) for mobile devices and for use by adolescents younger than 18 years. Results A total of 24 publications met the inclusion criteria. These described 15 apps, two of which were available to download. Two small randomized trials and one case study failed to demonstrate a significant effect of three apps on intended mental health outcomes. Articles that analyzed the content of six apps for children and adolescents that were available to download established that none had undergone any research evaluation. Feasibility outcomes suggest acceptability of apps was good and app usage was moderate. Conclusions Overall, there is currently insufficient research evidence to support the effectiveness of apps for children, preadolescents, and adolescents with mental health problems. Given the number and pace at which mHealth apps are being released on app stores, methodologically robust research studies evaluating their safety, efficacy, and effectiveness is promptly needed.

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Author and article information

Contributors

Jorge Arias-de la Torre:

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6908-9611

Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College London16 De Crespigny ParkDenmark Hill campusLondon, SE5 8AFUnited Kingdom44 634722677jorgeariasdelatorre@gmail.com

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Med Internet Res

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J. Med. Internet Res

Journal ID (publisher-id): JMIR

Title: Journal of Medical Internet Research

Publisher: JMIR Publications (Toronto, Canada )

ISSN (Print): 1439-4456

ISSN (Electronic): 1438-8871

Publication date Collection: August 2020

Publication date (Electronic): 26 August 2020

Volume: 22

Issue: 8

Electronic Location Identifier: e16388

Affiliations

[1 ] Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience King's College London London United Kingdom

[2 ] CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública Barcelona Spain

[3 ] Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia Barcelona Spain

[4 ] Institute of Biomedicine University of Leon Leon Spain

[5 ] Health Services and Chronic Diseases Research Network Barcelona Spain

[6 ] Health Services and Policy Research Group University of Exeter Medical School Exeter United Kingdom

[7 ] Section of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology University of Barcelona Barcelona Spain

[8 ] Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Spain

[9 ] Health Services Research Group Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute Barcelona Spain

[10 ] Department of Experimental and Health Sciences Pompeu Fabra University Barcelona Spain

Author notes

Corresponding Author: Jorge Arias-de la Torre jorgeariasdelatorre@ 123456gmail.com

Author information

Jorge Arias-de la Torre https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6908-9611

Elisa Puigdomenech https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1671-0248

Xavier García https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7199-6931

Jose M Valderas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9299-1555

Francisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4163-6545

Tania Fernández-Villa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9049-3026

Antonio J Molina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5948-6397

Vicente Martín https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0552-2804

Antoni Serrano-Blanco https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6123-0633

Jordi Alonso https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8627-9636

Mireia Espallargues https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4277-3672

Article

Publisher ID: v22i8e16388

DOI: 10.2196/16388

PMC ID: 7481866

PubMed ID: 32663157

SO-VID: a3cf7ae8-260c-4ed2-be29-65505f139215

Copyright © ©Jorge Arias-de la Torre, Elisa Puigdomenech, Xavier García, Jose M Valderas, Francisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa, Tania Fernández-Villa, Antonio J Molina, Vicente Martín, Antoni Serrano-Blanco, Jordi Alonso, Mireia Espallargues. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 26.08.2020.

License:

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on http://www.jmir.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.

History

Date received : 25 September 2019

Date revision requested : 14 May 2020

Date revision received : 21 May 2020

Date accepted : 3 June 2020

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