ISSN: 2375-4494

Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior
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Relationship between Use of Social Media and Depression among Female Teenagers in Buraidah, AlQassim, Saudi Arabia

Sarah Ali*, Hind Ayed Al Harbi and Syed Raziur Rahman
Qassim University, Medical Laboratories C.A.M.S, Hayal Ofuq Buraidah, Qassim Reigon 52387, Saudi Arabia
*Corresponding Author: Sarah Ali, Qassim University, Medical Laboratories C.A.M.S, Hayal Ofuq Buraidah, Qassim Reigon 52387, Saudi Arabia, Tel: 0096650583729738, Email: dr_sarahrazi@rocketmail.com

Received: 15-Apr-2018 / Accepted Date: 01-May-2018 / Published Date: 10-May-2018 DOI: 10.4172/2375-4494.1000374

Abstract

Introduction: While media use is an integral part of the daily life of teenagers, there are a number of risks associated with social media use, specifically, negative effects on mental health. Teenagers, who are regular media users, have lots of friends, get along well with their parents, and are happy at school, but lack of close friends is the strongest predictors of depression and negative self-views. Our study was based on association between social media users and depression in female teenagers in Buraydah city Qassim Reigon, K.S.A.
Methods: It was cross sectional study designed to examine both exposure (social media) and disease outcome (depression) simultaneously for each subject. It was conducted among female teenagers, aged between 13-17 years in Buraydah city, which is located in the central part of Saudi Arabia, during the period of January to July 2014. Study sample; Female teenager (16-19) from high schools in Buraydah. 80 female teenagers were selected randomly. Descriptive statististics; demography, family history, use of social media, and Analytical statististics; Prevalence of depression (outcome); Association between use social media and depression were estimated.
Result: The mean age in study group was 16.27 ± 1.46 years. 35% have diagnosis with depression and 48 (60%) addicted users (≥5 h/day) of social media, out of which only 20 (41.67%) had depression.
Conclusion: This study showed that people, who spend a lot of time using social media, do not always have depression. Out of 48 participants who used social media more than 5 hours daily it is only 20 (41.67%) who had depression (p<0.2915 not significant).

Keywords: Social media; Depression; Teenagers; Buraidah

Introduction

Social media refers to interaction among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content." Furthermore, social media depend on mobile and web-based technologies to create highly interactive platforms through which individuals and communities share, co-create, discuss, and modify user-generated content. They introduce substantial and pervasive changes to communication between organizations, communities, and individuals.

Social-media technologies take on many different forms including magazines, Internet forums, weblogs, social blogs, microblogging, wikis, social networks, podcasts, photographs or pictures, video, rating and social bookmarking.

By applying a set of theories in the field of media research (social presence, media richness) and social processes (self-presentation, selfdisclosure), Kaplan and Haenlein created a classification scheme in their Business Horizons (2010) article, with seven different types of social media [1,2]:

• Collaborative projects (for example, Wikipedia)

• Blogs and microblogs (for example, Twitter)

• Social news networking sites (for example, Digg and Leakernet)

• Content communities (for example, YouTube and DailyMotion)

• Social networking sites (for example, Facebook)

• Virtual game-worlds (e.g., World of Warcraft)

• Virtual social worlds (e.g. Second Life).

Social media are dynamic and interactive computer-mediated communication tools that have high penetration rates in the general population in high-income and middle-income countries. However, in medicine and health care, a large number of stakeholders (eg, clinicians, administrators, professional colleges, academic institutions, ministries of health, among others) are unaware of social media’s relevance, potential applications in their day-to-day activities, as well as the inherent risks and how these may be attenuated and mitigated.

Depression is defined as a cluster of specific symptoms with associated impairment. The clinical and diagnostic features of the disorder are broadly similar in adolescents and adults (panel) [3-5]. The two main classification systems (international classification of diseases-10 [ICD-10] and the American diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-IV [DSM-IV]) define depression similarly, although DSM-IV makes one exception for children and adolescents, whereby irritable rather than depressed mood is allowed as a core diagnostic symptom. Nevertheless, depression in adolescents is more often missed than it is in adults, possibly because of the prominence of irritability, mood reactivity, and fluctuating symptoms in adolescents. Depression can also be missed if the primary presenting problems are unexplained physical symptoms, eating disorders, anxiety, and refusal to attend school, decline in academic performance, substance misuse, or behavioral problems. Most teenagers surveyed who are regular media users have lots of friends, get along well with their parents, and are happy at school. However, lacks of close friends are the strongest predictors of depression and negative self-views amongst teenagers who are the heaviest media users. So we studied association between social media users and depression in female teenagers in Buraydah city.

Methodology

Overview of the study design

Cross sectional study, was designed to examine both exposure (social media) and disease outcome (depression) simultaneously for each subject.

This study was conducted in the central part of Saudi Arabia, in teenager 15-19 years in Buraydah city, during the period of June to July 2014.

80 female teenagers, who used different types of social media daily, participated in the study, and effect of these social media on mental health (depression), and social activities was analysed.

The level of depression, was measured according to the scores obtained by depression scale, using the MOH approved form to find scale of depression. The association between using social media, parent's education, family income, knowledge and depression, was investigated.

Study samples

80 Female teenagers, (15-19 years old) from high school, who used social media daily, were randomly selected in this study.

Inclusion Criteria: All female teenagers from 15-19 years in Buraydah city

Exclusion Criteria: All female, except female teenager from 15-19 years, and male from all ages.

Data collection

Data was collected using well-structured questionnaire, with Closeended and some open question based on Type of Social media used, Time spent per day and Behavorial pattern and Depression Scale Indicators. Permission was obtained from Schools and Informed consent was taken from, parents of female teenagers who agreed to participate in this study. Approval from departmental review committee was also obtained.

Statistical analysis

The data was entered in EXCEL version 2007 statistical software and analyzed in epi info version 7. Assessment of qualitative variables was done with descriptive statistics using mean and standard deviations for continuous variables.

Descriptive statistical: (demography, family history, use social media and knowledge).

Analytic statistical: Prevalence of Exposure; family history, knowledge, uses social media and demography; Prevalence of depression (outcome).

Results

Table 1 shows the demographic characteristic of sample, the mean age of sample 16.27 ± 1.45. Parent's education, bachelor 58.75% of samples. 43.75% have monthly household income ≥ 20,000 SR. 60% of participants spend more than five hours online daily.

Demographic characteristics  
Age in years (mean ± STD) 16.27 ± 1.4581
Parents education  
Primary 1 (1.25%)
Intermediate 7 (8.75%)
High 13 (16.25%)
Bachelor 47 (58.75%)
Masters 6 (7.50%)
phD 5 (6.25)
Monthly household Income: (SR)  
≤5,000 7 (8.75)
≤10,000 16 (20%)
≤15,000 20 (25%)
≥20,000 35 (43.75%)
No. of hours online: (h)  
<3 h 5 (6.25%)
3 h 14 (17.50%)
5 h 13 (16.25%)
>5 h 48 (60%)

Table 1: Demographic characteristics of study sample.

Table 2 shows distribution of types of social media used by participants, 65% used What's app, followed by Instragram (55%). Least used was Facebook (8.75%).

Types of social media use Frequency (%)
Twitter 40 (50%)
Face book 7 (8.75%)
Instgram 44 (55%)
What's app 52 (65%)
Youtube 24 (30%)

Table 2: Distribution of social media used.

Figure 1 shows, that most of the Participants used more than one type of Social Media network for communication.

child-and-adolescent-behavior-programs

Figure 1: Other media programs used by participants.

Table 3 shows distribution of self-reported symptoms of depression and their scores, 35% of teenagers had symptoms of depression based on according to their answers, according to Standard Depression Scale.

Mean Scores of Depression Frequency (%)
0-14: no depression 52 (65%)
15-25: depression 28 (35%)

Table 3: Distribution of Self-Reported Symptoms of Depression; Scores.

Table 4 shows association between hours of keeping online daily and depression. 60% of teenagers, keeping online for 5 hours & more than 5 h daily, were not having depression, while 39% of them was had depression.

Online daily Depression No depression Total
˂3 hours 2 3 5
3 hours 2 12 14
5 hours 4 9 13
˃5 hours 20 28 48
 

Table 4: Association between keeping online daily and depression scores.

Association between use of Different types of Social Media and Depression Scores

Table 5 Illustrates that there was no significant association between Using Different types of Social Media and Depression. As shown by the Odds of Depression ratio, among users and Non-Users, with the Probability of association P value. If P=<0.05, this was considered as significant (Figure 2).

  Diagnosis      
Use What's app Depression  No depression Total Odd of Depression Probability of association with Depression
Use 19 33 52 Odd ratio =1.21 P=0.69
Not significant
Don’t use 9 19 28   P=0.69
Not significant
Total 28 52 80    

Table 5.1: Association between use of what’s app and depression scores.

  Diagnosis      
Use Twitter  Depression  No depression Total Odd of Depression Probability of association with Depression
Use 15 25 40 Odd ratio =1.24 P=0.63
Not significant
Don’t use 13 27 40    
Total 28 52 80    

Table 5.2: Association between use of Twitter and depression scores.

  Diagnosis      
Use Instagram  Depression  No depression Total Odd of Depression Probability of association with Depression
Use 19 25 44 Odd ratio =2.28 P= 0.08
Not significant
Don’t use 9 27 36    
Total 28 52 80    

Table 5.3: Association between use instagram and depression scores.

  Diagnosis      
Use face book  Depression  No depression Total Odd of Depression Probability of association with Depression
Use 2 5 7 Odd ratio =0.7 P= 0.7
Not significant
Don’t use 26 47 73    
TOTAL 28 52 80    

Table 5.4: Association between use of Face book and depression scores.

  Diagnosis      
Use youtube  Depression  No depression Total Odd of Depression Probability of association with Depression
Use 2 5 7 Odd ratio =0.5 P=0.2 Not significant
Don’t use 26 47 73    
Total 28 52 80    

Table 5.5: Association between use of Youtube and depression scores.

child-and-adolescent-behavior-experienced

Figure 2: Emotions experienced after using Social Media.

Discussion

65% of female teenagers have used what's app, 50% used twitter, 55% used instagram and 8.75% used facebook, compared to a study done among American teenagers, 71% of them used facebook, 52% used instragram, 41% Twitter [6].

There is no significant association between excessive use social network and depression, with 52 (65%) of participants having no depression and only 28 (35%) reported depression, p=0.69, in this study, in contrast to a study done in - The Relationship between Excessive Internet Use and Depression: A Questionnaire-Based Study of 1,319 Young People and Adults. Across the whole data sample, there was a close relationship between internet addiction tendencies and depression, such that internet addiction respondents were more depressed. There was a significant difference between the internet addiction and the non-internet addiction group in their levels of depressive symptoms, with the non-internet addiction group firmly in the non-depressed range, and the internet addiction group in the moderately-to-severely depressed range (F1, 34=22.35; p<0.001) [7].

In this study, 5 (6.25%) of teenagers used Social media for less than 3 hours, 14 (17.5%) spent 3 hours on social media, 13 (16.25%) spent 5 hours on social media, while 48 (60%), used social media more than 5 hours. Out of these 48 (60%) only 20 (41.67%) have reported having depression. In this study, overuse (3 hour and more) of Social media has been observed in 75 (93.8%) teenagers, which is higher than reported by other studies, while addiction (more than 5 hours) was observed in 48 (60%) of teenagers. A cross-sectional study design was employed to survey students at three Irish secondary schools, with a sample of 474 completing a questionnaire. 202 (44%) (n=460) accessed the Internet using a shared home computer. Two hours or less were spent online daily by 285 (62%), of whom 450 (98%) were unsupervised. 306 (72%) (n=425) reported frequent usage of SNSs, 403 (95%) of whom were Facebook users. 42 (10%) males and 51 (12%) females experienced bullying online, while 114 (27%) reported inappropriate contact from others. Concerning overuse and the risk of addiction, 140 (33%) felt they accessed SNSs too often. This study showed that overuse of social media has been a source of bullying, and depression among teenagers. It also showed that teenagers are addicted to overuse of social media for more than 3 hours per day (60%) and also unsupervised. It also depicts use of multuiple forms of social media, which is similar to this study [8].

In this study, no significant association was found between using Social media and depression, but it was observed that a higher number of self-reported depression (based on the depression scores) teenagers were associated with use of Whatt,sup, Instragram and twitter. 28 (35%) participants had depression, though not significant but show that Social media can be related to depression as depicted by two other studies examined associations between social networking and depressive symptoms among youth. In Study 1, 384 participants (68% female; mean age=20.22 years, SD =2.90) were surveyed. In Study 2, 334 participants (62% female; M age=19.44 years, SD =2.05) were surveyed initially and 3 weeks later. Results indicated that depressive symptoms were associated with quality of social networking interactions, not quantity. There was some evidence that depressive rumination moderated associations, and both depressive rumination and corumination were associated with aspects of social networking usage and quality. Implications for understanding circumstances that increase social networking, as well as resulting negative interactions and negative affect are discussed [9].

Note. Study 1 correlations are shown below the diagonal and Study 2 correlations are shown above the diagonal *p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.01, ***p ≤ 0.001 (two-tailed).

In our study we found a mixed pattern, 72.5% of participants felt normal after using social media, 16.25% felt happy, 6.25% felt nervous, and 5% felt sad. Most of the participants were not having depression, while 35% of them had depression. This is in contrast to most studies which showed a strong association between social media overuse and depression. This could be explained by Inborn differences in race, geographical distribution, religious practices and beliefs, and small sample size [10,11].

Conclusion

• There is no significant association between excessive use social network and depression, with 52 (65%) of participants having no depression and only 28 (35%) reported depression, p=0.69, in this study.

• In this study, overuse (3 hour and more) of Social media has been observed in 75 (93.8%) teenagers, which is higher than reported by other studies, while addiction (more than 5 hours) was observed in 48 (60%) of teenagers.

• In our study we found a mixed pattern, 72.5% of participants felt normal after using social media, 16.25% felt happy, 6.25% felt nervous, and 5% felt sad. Most of the participants were not having depression, while 35% of them had depression.

• According to result participants who use social media more than 5 hours daily only 20 out of 48 had depression (p<0.2915 not significant).

Despite limitation of this study, the result of this study contributes to understand circumstances that can make social networking more useful and to eliminate the negative interactions and negative effect. For further studies, are needed in this study population to understand better the positive and negative influences of social networking on health.

References

  1. Kaplan AM, Haenlein M (2010) Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media. Bus Horizons 53: 59-68.
  2. Cheung LM, Wong WS (2011) The effects of insomnia and internet addiction on depression in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents: an exploratory cross-sectional analysis. J Sleep Res 20: 311-317.
  3. Davila J, Hershenberg R, Feinstein BA, Gorman K, Bhatia V, et al. (2012) Frequency and quality of social networking among young adults: Associations with depressive symptoms, rumination, and corumination. Psychol of Pop Media Cul 1: 72-86.
  4. Murali V, George S (2007) Lost online: an overview of Internet addiction. Adv Psychiatr Treat 13: 24-30.
  5. Pew Research Center's Teens Relationships Survey, Sept. 25-Oct. 9, 2014 and Feb. 10-Mar. 16, 2015. (n=1,060 teens ages 13 to 17).
  6. Kuss DJ, Griffiths MD (2011) Online Social Networking and Addiction. Int J Environ Res Public Health 8: 3528-3552.
  7. Echeburúa E, de Corral P (2010) Addiction to new technologies and to online social networking in young people: A new challenge. Adicciones 22: 91-95.
  8. Harbaugh ER (2010) The effect of personality styles (level of introversion – extroversion) on social media use. Elon J Undergraduate Res Commun 1: 70-86.
  9. Morrison CM, Gore H (2010) The relationship between excessive Internet use and depression: a questionnaire-based study of 1,319 young people and adults. Psychopathology 43: 121-126.
  10. Machold C, Judge G, Mavrinac A, Elliott J, Murphy AM, et al. (2012) Social networking patterns/hazards among teenagers. Ir Med J 105: 151-152.
  11. Shaw M, Black DW (2008) Internet addiction: definition, assessment, epidemiology and clinical management. CNS Drugs 22: 353-365.

Citation: Ali S, Harbi HAA, Rahman SR (2018) Relationship between Use of Social Media and Depression among Female Teenagers in Buraidah, AlQassim, Saudi Arabia. J Child Adolesc Behav 6: 374. DOI: 10.4172/2375-4494.1000374

Copyright: © 2018 Ali S, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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