The online world as a means of connection and disconnection during the COVID-19 pandemic: A test of the interpersonal-connections-behaviour framework.
Anxiety
Depression
Loneliness
Social connection
Social media
Social network site
Journal
Journal of affective disorders
ISSN: 1573-2517
Titre abrégé: J Affect Disord
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7906073
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
07 Dec 2023
07 Dec 2023
Historique:
received:
08
02
2023
revised:
10
11
2023
accepted:
02
12
2023
medline:
10
12
2023
pubmed:
10
12
2023
entrez:
9
12
2023
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
The interpersonal-connections-behaviour framework proposes that social media is helpful/unhelpful to the individual to the extent that it facilitates/hinders satisfaction of core needs for acceptance and belonging (connecting and disconnecting pathways). However, little research has, to date, explicitly tested this framework. Both pathways were explored in a cross-sectional sample of UK adults at the start of the pandemic (N = 632) and in longitudinal (cross-lagged) analyses (N = 227-240). Participants completed measures of online and offline socialising with friends and family (connecting pathway), and online and offline social comparisons (disconnecting pathway), anxiety, depression and loneliness. In cross-sectional analyses higher levels of online comparisons were associated with poorer mental health, an effect that survived after controlling for offline comparisons, and was partially mediated by loneliness. Counter to our predictions, online socialising was also associated with poorer mental health. Longitudinal analyses did not support predicted directions of causality. Limitations include a lack of testing of individual-level moderators, the use of single item questions to probe some constructs, and an inability to test for effects potentially operating at different time-scales. The findings reported partially support the interpersonal-connections-behaviour framework in highlighting a disconnecting (but not connecting) pathway between online engagement and mental health. From a clinical perspective they highlight the importance of including people's online lives when considering mental health risk and resilience, particularly (one might argue) during periods of social isolation.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The interpersonal-connections-behaviour framework proposes that social media is helpful/unhelpful to the individual to the extent that it facilitates/hinders satisfaction of core needs for acceptance and belonging (connecting and disconnecting pathways). However, little research has, to date, explicitly tested this framework.
METHODS
METHODS
Both pathways were explored in a cross-sectional sample of UK adults at the start of the pandemic (N = 632) and in longitudinal (cross-lagged) analyses (N = 227-240). Participants completed measures of online and offline socialising with friends and family (connecting pathway), and online and offline social comparisons (disconnecting pathway), anxiety, depression and loneliness.
RESULTS
RESULTS
In cross-sectional analyses higher levels of online comparisons were associated with poorer mental health, an effect that survived after controlling for offline comparisons, and was partially mediated by loneliness. Counter to our predictions, online socialising was also associated with poorer mental health. Longitudinal analyses did not support predicted directions of causality.
LIMITATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Limitations include a lack of testing of individual-level moderators, the use of single item questions to probe some constructs, and an inability to test for effects potentially operating at different time-scales.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
The findings reported partially support the interpersonal-connections-behaviour framework in highlighting a disconnecting (but not connecting) pathway between online engagement and mental health. From a clinical perspective they highlight the importance of including people's online lives when considering mental health risk and resilience, particularly (one might argue) during periods of social isolation.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38070743
pii: S0165-0327(23)01474-X
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.12.006
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest None.