A1 Journal article (refereed)
What Counteracts Problematic Social Media Use in Adolescence? A Cross-National Observational Study (2024)

Lahti, H., Kulmala, M., Hietajärvi, L., Lyyra, N., Kleszczewska, D., Boniel-Nissim, M., Furstova, J., van den Eijnden, R., Sudeck, G., & Paakkari, L. (2024). What Counteracts Problematic Social Media Use in Adolescence? A Cross-National Observational Study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 74(1), 98-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.07.026

JYU authors or editors

Lahti, Henri
Kulmala, Markus
Lyyra, Nelli
Paakkari, Leena

Publication details

All authors or editors: Lahti, Henri; Kulmala, Markus; Hietajärvi, Lauri; Lyyra, Nelli; Kleszczewska, Dorota; Boniel-Nissim, Meyran; Furstova, Jana; van den Eijnden, Regina; Sudeck, Gorden; Paakkari, Leena

Journal or series: Journal of Adolescent Health

ISSN: 1054-139X

eISSN: 1879-1972

Publication year: 2024

Volume: 74

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 98-112

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.07.026

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/89373

Abstract

Purpose: Social media use has increased rapidly during the past decade, raising concerns about adolescents who display problematic social media use (PSMU), as indicated by addiction-like symptoms (e.g., preoccupation, tolerance). We aimed to assess the extent to which an individual resource (health literacy), and social resources (friend support and family support), moderated the association between a range of individual characteristics (gender, age, family affluence, and depressive feelings) and PSMU; also the association between PSMU and health outcomes (selfrated health, life satisfaction, and sleep difficulties), both cross-nationally and nationally.
Methods: Our sample included 22,226 adolescents from six European countries. We used data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children cross-sectional survey (2017/2018). Randomeffects models and moderator analyses were applied.
Results: Six moderations were found, with the resources moderating the association between individual characteristics and PSMU. One moderation emerged cross-nationally, namely that a higher level of family support was associated with a lower likelihood of PSMU, especially among adolescents who did not have frequent depressive feelings. In addition, five national moderations were identified. For example, a higher level of health literacy was associated with a lower likelihood of PSMU among Finnish girls. The resources were also found to moderate the association between PSMU and health outcomes, with two moderations emerging cross-nationally. For instance, a higher level of family support was related to higher self-rated health, especially among problematic users. In addition, nine national moderations were identified; these included a higher level of health literacy being associated with having less sleep difficulties, especially among problematic users in Germany.
Discussion: In adolescence, health literacy, family support, and friend support have the potential to moderate the association between individual characteristics and PSMU, and between PSMU and health outcomes, cross-nationally and nationally. We recommend the use of universal and targeted interventions to promote individual and social resources to counteract PSMU.

Keywords: young people; social media; use; addiction; health effects; health literacy; supporting