Social networking site use in young adolescents: association with health-related quality of life and behavioural difficulties

Jenkins, R.H. and Shen, C. and Dumontheil, Iroise and Thomas, Michael S.C. and Elliott, P. and Röösli, M. and Toledano, M.B. (2020) Social networking site use in young adolescents: association with health-related quality of life and behavioural difficulties. Computers in Human Behavior 109 (106320), ISSN 0747-5632.

Abstract

Despite Social Networking Sites (SNS) having a minimum age of 13, younger adolescents are using them. In this study, we examine self-reported overall SNS use and SNS use if awake at night in relation to Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL, measured by KIDSCREEN-10) and behaviour (measured by Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ) in 5,229 adolescents aged 11-12 in the Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones (SCAMP) cohort. Two-thirds of the study population used SNS. Weekday and weekend SNS use on mobile phones and other devices was significantly associated with lower HRQOL in females (all p-values for linear trend < 0.01) but not males. Using SNS if awake at night was also significantly associated with lower HRQOL in females (adjusted β-coefficient - 2.20 (95% CI - 3.18, - 1.22)). Higher SNS use on mobile phones and other devices was associated with increased behavioural difficulties in both genders (p-value for trend < 0.001). Similarly, SNS use if awake at night was associated with greater behavioural difficulties (adjusted β-coefficient 2.54 (95% CI 2.09, 2.98)). We recommend further longitudinal research in this area in order have a better understanding of the direction of relationships between SNS and wellbeing and behaviour in adolescents.

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