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Social Media and Health: Emerging Trends and Future Directions for Research on Adolescents and Young Adults

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Digital Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 33500

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Saleem Alhabash

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Guest Editor

Department of Advertising and Public Relations, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Interests: social media use; digital persuasion; alcohol use and social media; digital aggression; racial and cultural stereotypes

Dr. Megan A. Moreno

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Guest Editor

Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA
Interests: adolescent health; digital media mental health and wellbeing; health behavior

Dr. Hanneke Hendriks

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Guest Editor

Communication Science, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Interests: interpersonal communication; social media use; alcohol use; alcohol-related marketing; young people/adolescents; misinformation

Prof. Dr. Sandi W. Smith

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Guest Editor

Department of Communication, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Interests: social Influence; alcohol use and social media; health communication; social norms

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The ubiquity and affordances of social media have allowed adolescents and young people to become both active posters and passive recipients of communication related to health. For instance, people may post exercise goals and behaviors on social media, while at the same time, they may be exposed to friends drinking alcohol and/or indulging in unhealthy snacking. This intersection of sociotechnical systems (i.e., social media) and health and wellbeing has garnered increasing scholarly attention. However, much is still unknown as to why some, but not other, people actively post about health topics; the effects of exposure to health-related content on social media; and how (for instance) social network structures influence individual and community health.

For this Special Issue, which focuses on adolescents and young adults, we invite conceptual papers and original research using multiple methodological approaches to addresss these topics. In addition, we use a socio-ecological framework (Bronfenbrenner, 1977, 1986, and 1989; Kilanowski, 2017) divided into the following categories: individual, interpersonal/relationship (microsystem), community (mesosystem), and society (exosystem). We also welcome submissions focused within any of these categories, and examples of research topics corresponding to each category are provided as follows:

Individual:
1. Individual attitudes and motivations related to health-related social media use;
2. Role of social media in shaping personal health perceptions;
3. Individual and demographic differences in health-related social media use;
4. Use of social media data for personal disease detection and prevention.
Relationship/Interpersonal:
1. How health-related social media use influences interpersonal closeness;
2. Influence of tie strength on health-related behaviors on social media;
3. Role of family and friends in health-related attitude and behavioral change through social media.
Community:
1. Role of educational institutions (e.g., schools and universities) in health-related advocacy via social media;
2. Practices of religious organizations in health advocacy on social media;
3. Community organizations’ use of social media for health.
Societal:
1. Opportunities and challenges for organizations and companies regarding health-related social media use;
2. Use and effects of governmental social media for health advocacy;
3. The intersection of health- and technology-related regulations;
4. Economic approaches to the use of social media for health.

Using this framework, we hope to provide a thorough and balanced overview of the emerging trends and future directions for research on social media and health.

Dr. Saleem Alhabash
Dr. Megan A. Moreno
Dr. Hanneke Hendriks
Prof. Dr. Sandi W. Smith
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

social media
social networking sites
health
wellbeing
adolescents
young adults
socio-ecological framework

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 11131 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dealing with Alcohol-Related Posts on Social Media: Using a Mixed-Method Approach to Understand Young Peoples’ Problem Awareness and Evaluations of Intervention Ideas

by Hanneke Hendriks, Tu Thanh Le, Winifred A. Gebhardt, Bas van den Putte and Robyn Vanherle

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(10), 5820; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105820 - 13 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2856

Abstract

Young individuals frequently share and encounter alcohol-related content (i.e., alcohol posts) on social networking sites. The prevalence of these posts is problematic because both the sharing of and exposure to these posts can increase young individuals’ alcohol (mis)use. Consequently, it is essential to develop effective intervention strategies that hinder young individuals from sharing these posts. This study aimed to develop such intervention strategies by following four steps: (1) assessing young individuals’ problem awareness of alcohol posts, (2) unraveling individuals’ own intervention ideas to tackle the problem of alcohol posts, (3) examining their evaluations of theory/empirical-based intervention ideas, and (4) exploring individual differences in both problem awareness and intervention evaluations. To reach these aims, a mixed-method study (i.e., focus-group interviews and surveys) among Dutch high-school and college students (N_total = 292, Age_range = 16–28 years) was conducted. According to the results, most youth did not consider alcohol posts to be a problem and were, therefore, in favor of using automated warning messages to raise awareness. However, these messages might not work for every individual, as group differences in problem awareness and intervention evaluations exist. Overall, this study puts forward potential intervention ideas to reduce alcohol posts in digital spheres and can therefore serve as a steppingstone to test the actual effects of the ideas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media and Health: Emerging Trends and Future Directions for Research on Adolescents and Young Adults)

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10 pages, 1334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transfer of Mental Health Services for Medical Students to Cyberspace during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Service Use and Students’ Preferences for Psychological Self-Help Techniques

by Barnabás Oláh, Ildikó Kuritárné Szabó and Karolina Kósa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13338; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013338 - 16 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1684

Abstract

The high risk of mental health problems among medical students has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which greatly reduced social contact. The mental health support service of the medical school of one Hungarian university was transferred to the online learning management system and was expanded by self-help materials in three domains: Improving study skills, stress management techniques, and reducing stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted to understand the preferences of medical students for psychological self-help techniques by investigating the pattern of access to online self-help materials and the characteristics of the users. Access to the online materials between April 2020 and April 2021 among Hungarian and international medical students was analyzed using the logging data of the system. Of all the students who logged in during the examination period (n = 458), 36.6–40.4% viewed materials to improve study skills and 23–29% viewed stress management materials, of which short-duration audio format techniques were preferred. The access rate of content targeting coping with the mental health effects of COVID-19 was 9.5–24%. Support to improve study skills is significantly more preferred than interventions targeting distress-reduction. The pattern of access can be used for the development of interventions that are of most interest to medical students. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media and Health: Emerging Trends and Future Directions for Research on Adolescents and Young Adults)

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24 pages, 3547 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Fear and Humor Appeals in Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on Intentions to Purchase Medications via Social Media

by Saleem Alhabash, Yao Dong, Charlotte Moureaud, Iago S. Muraro and John B. Hertig

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12340; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912340 - 28 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2933

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of online purchase of medications, specifically via social media platforms, poses significant health risks due to high chances of such medications being substandard and falsified (SF). The current study uses a 2 (persuasive appeal: fear vs. humor) x 3 (message repetition) mixed factorial experiment to investigate the effectiveness of persuasive appeals (on intentions to purchase medications online via social media referrals, mediated by psychological reactance (threat to freedom and anger), attitudes toward the public service announcements (PSAs), and viral behavioral intentions. ANOVA results showed the superiority of humor appeals compared to fear appeals in (1) reducing psychological reactance, (2) igniting favorable responses to the PSA, and (3) marginally reducing the intentions to purchase medications vial social media despite lower online engagement intentions (viral behavioral intentions). Pre-existing risk perceptions moderated these differences. A moderated serial mediation model, conducted using PROCESS models, was examined to assess the mechanism by which persuasive appeals and risk perceptions interact in influencing purchase intentions. Findings are discussed theoretically in regard to extending the psychological reactance model within the digital environment and practically in terms of public health, brand protection, and law enforcement recommendations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media and Health: Emerging Trends and Future Directions for Research on Adolescents and Young Adults)

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16 pages, 952 KiB

Open AccessArticle

College Students’ Distractions from Learning Caused by Multitasking in Online vs. Face-to-Face Classes: A Case Study at a Public University in Romania

by Kamer Ainur Aivaz and Daniel Teodorescu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11188; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811188 - 6 Sep 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 7442

Abstract

This study compared Romanian college students’ off-task use of digital devices in online courses with their digital distractions in face-to-face courses. Students taking both online and face-to-face courses completed surveys assessing off-task use of technology in each delivery mode, extent to which such use constitutes a distraction, and instructor policies for curbing use of digital devices in class. Off-task use of digital devices was significantly greater in online than face-to-face courses. Students were twice as likely to state that they were distracted by multitasking in online than in face-to-face classes. They also indicated that instructors in online classes were less likely than their face-to-face instructors to have a policy on the use of digital devices for off-task purposes during class. Study participants were more lenient toward the use of digital devices in online than in in-person classes and were less bothered by multitasking and classmates’ off-task use of digital devices in online than in face-to-face classes. The results of this study have implications for instructors in online classes. By improving instructional design and pedagogical methods and creating opportunities for more interaction during the class, online instructors might be able to increase student motivation and lower multitasking behaviors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media and Health: Emerging Trends and Future Directions for Research on Adolescents and Young Adults)

16 pages, 1865 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mothers Matter: Using Regression Tree Algorithms to Predict Adolescents’ Sharing of Drunk References on Social Media

by Sebastian Kurten, David Winant and Kathleen Beullens

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11338; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111338 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2245

Abstract

Exposure to online drinking on social media is associated with real-life alcohol consumption. Building on the Theory of planned behavior, the current study substantially adds to this line of research by identifying the predictors of sharing drunk references on social media. Based on a cross-sectional survey among 1639 adolescents with a mean age of 15 (59% female), this study compares and discusses multiple regression tree algorithms predicting the sharing of drunk references. More specifically, this paper compares the accuracy of classification and regression tree, bagging, random forest and extreme gradient boosting algorithms. The analysis indicates that four concepts are central to predicting adolescents’ sharing of drunk references: (1) exposure to them on social media; (2) the perceived injunctive norms of the mother towards alcohol consumption; (3) the perceived descriptive norms of best friends towards alcohol consumption; and (4) willingness to drink alcohol. The most accurate results were obtained using extreme gradient boosting. This study provides theoretical, practical, and methodological conclusions. It shows that maternal norms toward alcohol consumption are a central predictor for sharing drunk references. Therefore, future media literacy interventions should take an ecological perspective. In addition, this analysis indicates that regression trees are an advantageous method in youth research, combining accurate predictions with straightforward interpretations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media and Health: Emerging Trends and Future Directions for Research on Adolescents and Young Adults)

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15 pages, 324 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Searching for Social Media Addiction: A Content Analysis of Top Websites Found through Online Search Engines

by Alexis M. McCarroll, Bree E. Holtz and Dar Meshi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10077; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910077 - 25 Sep 2021

Viewed by 4762

Abstract

Disordered social media use, often referred to as “social media addiction”, has not been officially recognized by medical bodies such as the American Psychiatric Association or the World Health Organization. However, websites still present information to laypeople on how to treat and manage social media addiction, which can pose the risk of spreading low quality or incorrect information. As such, we aimed to assess how the most popular social media addiction websites present information across multiple metrics. We conducted an in-depth online search to identify the top social media addiction websites in November 2019 (N = 23). Websites were separated into four distinct classifications: (1) treatment/therapy/medical; (2) informational; (3) news article; and (4) blog/essay. Based on previous website analysis research, three trained coders evaluated these websites on six metrics: (1) design; (2) credibility; (3) accessibility; (4) literacy; (5) engagement; and (6) social media addiction content. Design features were the top-rated metric across all websites, followed by credibility. Websites scored the lowest for the engagement and social media addiction content metrics. Across website classifications, scores for social media addiction content varied greatly, with blog/essay websites ranking the lowest and informational websites ranking the highest. Our findings provide necessary information for both patients and healthcare providers, apprising these individuals and the field about the current online health information landscape for disordered social media use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media and Health: Emerging Trends and Future Directions for Research on Adolescents and Young Adults)

Review

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22 pages, 3155 KiB

Open AccessReview

Social Media Use and Alcohol Consumption: A 10-Year Systematic Review

by Saleem Alhabash, Sunyoung Park, Sandi Smith, Hanneke Hendriks and Yao Dong

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11796; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811796 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3951

Abstract

Many studies have looked at the relationship between social media and alcohol consumption. There is a need for a comprehensive review that synthesizes the results of past research to systematically understand the relationship between social media use and alcohol consumption. The present systematic literature review synthesizes the findings from global social media and alcohol use studies (n = 206, 204 retained for analysis) between 2009 and 2019. Codes included type of study, methods, use of theory, and whether and how the relationship between social media and alcohol use was tested, among others. In addition to providing descriptive findings, the current study compared the findings across studies that primarily focused on advertising and marketing, self-generated user-generated content (UGC), other-generated UGC, social media uses and affordances, and a mixture of more than one type of content/focus. Most articles used quantitative methods (77.94%), which is followed by qualitative methods (15.20%), mixed methods (6.37%), and 0.49% that did not fit in any of the methods categories. Of the studies that tested the relationship between social media use and alcohol consumption, an overwhelming majority found that relationship to be positive (93.10%). The results of the present study provide a comprehensive understanding of past findings regarding social media and alcohol consumption and provide important future research suggestions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media and Health: Emerging Trends and Future Directions for Research on Adolescents and Young Adults)

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20 pages, 1670 KiB

Open AccessReview

Use and Effectiveness of Social-Media-Delivered Weight Loss Interventions among Teenagers and Young Adults: A Systematic Review

by Blanca Lozano-Chacon, Victor Suarez-Lledo and Javier Alvarez-Galvez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(16), 8493; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168493 - 11 Aug 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5596

Abstract

Obesity is a risk factor that exponentially increases morbidity and mortality in the world. Today, new health strategies are being implemented based on the use of social media but the use and effectiveness for these interventions needs to be assessed. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the impact of social-media-delivered weight loss interventions among teenagers and young adults. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, and OVID to identify articles that focused on this topic. Fourteen studies were included in the final review. The commitment of the participants was found to be fundamental factor when assessing the impact of social-media-delivered weight loss interventions, but also the social context in which the interventions were carried out. Our study highlights the potential of social media platforms to address weight loss interventions among younger groups. The works evaluated showed the usefulness of social media for the adequate monitoring and control in these groups. Finally, the current variety of study designs in this field highlights the need for greater homogeneity in their methodology and applications, which is a fundamental step before these tools could be considered a suitable tool for overweight management in clinical practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media and Health: Emerging Trends and Future Directions for Research on Adolescents and Young Adults)

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