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ABSTRACT

Background

The development of healthy relationships and connections is of fundamental importance to adolescent well-being. The use of social media plays a vital role in the lives of young Canadians, yet the association between different types of social media use and the quality of relationships and connections remains unknown, and most existing analyses on this topic are based on modest and non-representative samples.

Data and methods

Using 2017/2018 reports from the nationally representative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (n=17,149; ages 11 to 15 years), the strength, consistency and statistical significance of associations was examined between intensive (frequent use to connect with other people) and problematic (use that depicts addictive qualities) social media use and available measures of adolescent relationships and connections.

Results

Overall, intensive use (online communication with others almost all of the time) and problematic use (potential addiction to social media) were more common in girls than boys (38% of girls versus 30% of boys and 7.7% of girls versus 5.2% of boys, respectively), with prevalence levels that rose with age. Intensive use was associated with more positive social relationships with friends, especially among girls (relative risk [RR] = 1.40 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28 - 1.54]), while problematic use was consistently and negatively associated with strong relationships and connections in all groups in the study. Notably, problematic use was negatively associated with strong family relationships in boys (RR = 0.58 [95% CI 0.42 to 0.79]) and girls (RR=0.48 [95% CI 0.36 to 0.63]).

Discussion

Intensive use of social media has the potential to strengthen relationships and connections in adolescents. However, when social media use becomes addictive or "problematic," it is highly correlated with weaker relationships and a sense of social disconnection. Public health initiatives related to social media use should consider how different types of social media use have the potential to impact on different aspects of health.

Keywords

Social media use, Health Behaviour in School-aged Children, adolescents, Canada, relationships

Strong, positive relationships are critical to the healthy development of adolescents in their transition to adulthood. Positive relationships buffer against negative social influences, foster the formation of identity, support the development of social skills and self-esteem, and assist young people in establishing autonomy.1 Qualities of healthy and unhealthy adolescent relationships...

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