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Anxiety

Social Media Use Linked to Anxiety and Depression in Young Adults

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new study published in the Journal of Digital Health found that social media use is associated with increased symptoms of anxiety and depression in young adults, with self-esteem serving as a crucial mediator in this process. The research, conducted by Shiyuan Chen and colleagues from Northern Illinois University, explored the relationship between social media rumination (SMR) and internalizing symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, in a sample of 551 college students.

Key Takeaways:

  • Social media use is linked to increased symptoms of anxiety and depression in young adults, particularly through the mechanism of social media rumination (SMR).
  • Self-esteem plays a crucial role in mediating the association between SMR and internalizing symptoms, such as depression and anxiety.
  • The study found that SMR, above and beyond time spent on social media and type of engagement, was indirectly associated with depression and anxiety through self-esteem.
  • Gender did not moderate the associations between SMR and internalizing symptoms.
  • The study's findings have implications for developing targeted interventions aimed at mitigating the negative effects of social media use on mental health by addressing SMR and bolstering self-esteem in young adults.

Statistics:

  • 551 college students participated in the study, with a mean age of 19 years and 36% men.
  • 23.8% of the participants identified as White.
  • 36% of the participants reported SMR.
  • 42.1% of the participants reported symptoms of depression (PHQ-9).
  • 41.1% of the participants reported symptoms of anxiety (GAD-7).

Sources:

  • Chen, S., Jeong, R., Fellows, M., Sibenaller, I., & Demaray, M. (2025). From scrolling to spiraling: exploring the mediation role of self-esteem between social media ruminations and internalizing symptoms. Exploration of Digital Health Technologies, 3(), 101164.
  • NewsRx. New Findings in Anxiety Disorders Described from Northern Illinois University (From scrolling to spiraling: exploring the mediation role of self-esteem between social media ruminations and internalizing symptoms). Mental Health Weekly Digest. November 3, 2025; p 372.

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