The impact of social media screen-exposure time on suicidal ideation among Pakistani adolescents
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7176511 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mamoona Alyas (Department of Mass Communication, Lahore Collage for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan), Rameez Ali Mahesar (0000-0003-0921-0701, Iqra University), Sheikh Shoib (0000-0002-3739-706X, Independent Researcher, India), Muhammad Babar Khan (0000-0002-9321-7369, Iqra University), Syeda Ayat‐e‐zainab Ali (0000-0002-2998-7887, International Islamic University, Islamabad), Syeda Ayat-e-Zainab Ali (Department of Psychology, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan), Antonio Ventriglio (0000-0002-3934-7007, University of Foggia, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 71 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 149-158 |
| Publication date | 2024-10-14 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Social Psychiatry (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0020-7640 • E-ISSN: 1741-2854 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/00207640241285133 |
| PMID | 39400227 |
| OpenAlex | W4403397349 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 33 |
Background: Adolescence is a crucial life stage for the individual identity formation. The growing employment of social media and screen-exposure among teenagers and the concerning rise in suicide ideation rates in this susceptible group both suggested this study. Thus, we explored the association between adolescents’ suicidal ideation and their daily social media screen-exposure. Methods: We surveyed 502 students, aged 13 to 19 years old, recruited in colleges and universities of Punjab, Pakistan. The survey was based on a 28-item self-reported questionnaire and demographic data collection. Results: Approximately 40% of adolescents reporting suicidal ideation showed an extended social media screen-exposure, as well as significant depressive feelings and problematic personality traits. In particular, suicidal ideation increased by 0.39 for each one-unit increase in screen-exposure time and levels of depression increased by 0.21 times by unit of screen-exposure. The correlation coefficients further indicated a moderate positive association between depression and suicidal thoughts as well as personality traits played as mediators between social media screen-exposure time and suicidal ideation among adolescents. Conclusion: Our study found a positive association, even if modest, between the use of social media screens and suicidal ideation among adolescents. This evidence may suggest to adopt specific strategies to address the use of media among youths and prevent mental disorders related to the prolonged and inappropriate use of digital technologies in those users with a vulnerable personality
Association (psychology · Big Five personality traits · Depression (economics · Environmental health · Feeling · Obesity · Personality · Poison control · Psychiatry · Screen time · Social media · Suicidal ideation · Suicide prevention · Child Development and Digital Technology · Clinical Psychology · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology
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| Highly cited | No |
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