Differential associations between types of social media use and university students' non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behavior

Abstract

Objective. To examine differential associations between types of social media use and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behaviors. Methods. Participants were N = 40,065 Norwegian college and university students, age 18-25, from the 2018 Students' Health and Wellbeing (SHoT) study. Students reported on their use of social media for seven specific activities, which we categorized into active and passive nonsocial use, passive social use, active public social, and active private social use. We also considered students' tendency for negative social comparisons on social media. Outcomes were past-year NSSI, NSSI ideation, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt. Covariates were age, gender, total daily screen time and financial stress. Results. Results of multiple logistic regression revealed differential associations between types of social media use and outcomes. Notably, active social private use (e.g., messaging friends) was associated with decreased odds of all outcomes, whereas active social public use (e.g., status updates) was associated with increased odds of NSSI ideation, NSSI, and suicide attempt. Social comparison was associated with increased odds of all outcomes. Conclusion. Our results suggest that specific types of social media use are differentially associated with NSSI and suicidal outcomes among university students.

The Association Between Self-Reported Screen Time, Social Media Addiction, and Sleep Among Norwegian University Students

“…It would also be of interest to investigate specific screen-based activities (e.g., chatting with friends, reading the news, playing games, scrolling through content) in relation to sleep. For example, Kingsbury et al ( 47 ) demonstrated that messaging friends and other active social private use was associated with decreased odds of self-injury and suicidal behaviors, while active social public use (e.g., status updates) and also social comparison was associated with increased odds for these behaviors.…”

Looking through a filtered lens: Negative social comparison on social media and suicidal ideation among young adults.

“…Moreover, one of these studies showed that this relationship held above and beyond depressive symptoms (Wetherall et al, 2019). In the other study, negative social comparison had a stronger relationship with suicidal ideation compared with most self-harm outcomes (Kingsbury et al, 2021). Therefore, negative social comparison is related to suicidal ideation and has a more robust relationship compared with other negative psychological outcomes.…”

“…Negative social comparison is positively related to both depression and self-harm among young adults (Hwnag, 2019; Lup et al, 2015; Sherlock & Wagstaff, 2019; Williams et al, 2009); therefore, it is reasonable to consider that negative social comparison on social networking sites is related to other forms of self-injurious thoughts and behavior, including suicidal ideation. Two cross-sectional studies have examined the relationship between negative social comparison and suicidal ideation among young adults, finding that negative social comparison was positively related to suicidal ideation (Kingsbury et al, 2021; Wetherall et al, 2019). Moreover, one of these studies showed that this relationship held above and beyond depressive symptoms (Wetherall et al, 2019).…”

“…During this time, young adults may also be using social networking sites regularly (Pew Research Center, 2019; Smith & Anderon, 2018). Social networking site use, especially Instagram’s image-based platform, is strongly associated with increased negative social comparison (Fox & Vendemia, 2016; Hwnag, 2019; Vogel et al, 2014), and negative social comparison is positively associated to suicidal ideation among young adults (Kingsbury et al, 2021; Wetherall et al, 2019). As such, the combination of both high thwarted belongingness during the transition to college and increased negative social comparison during social networking site use, particularly Instagram, may be especially associated with increased suicidal ideation among young adults.…”

Through the Looking Glass of Social Media. Focus on Self-Presentation and Association with Mental Health and Quality of Life. A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study

“…However, by focusing primarily on frequency and duration of use [ 5 , 9 , 10 ], these studies provide little knowledge of how various types of social media activities may be differentially linked to mental health and well-being. Although a growing number of studies in general indicate that social media use should be considered multifaceted, and that distinct uses is differentially associated with adverse outcomes (see for instance [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]), there is still a dearth of studies taking this into consideration. Thus, there is a call for more novel quantitative studies investigating the relationship between what adolescents do on social media and how this is associated with mental health and well-being.…”