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The Onset of Menstruation and Social Networking Site Use in Adolescent Girls: The Mediating Role of Body Mass Index

Author

Listed:
  • Chenyu Lv

    (Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Ofir Turel

    (Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3053, Australia)

  • Qinghua He

    (Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
    Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
    Chongqing Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Chongqing 400715, China
    Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Chongqing 400715, China)

Abstract

Evidence suggests that girls spend much time on social networking sites (SNS), often more than boys do. It has been proposed that this may have to do with sex-based differences in the need and approaches for socialization. We posit that adolescent girls are also unique in that they are developing physiologically and start menstruating. Based on prior research, we hypothesize that the onset of menstruation can drive physiological changes (increased body mass index (BMI)), which together with common behavioral–psychological (social and emotional) responses to menstruation can contribute to an increase in SNS use. We therefore aim to test whether BMI partially mediates the relationship between menstruation and SNS use in adolescent girls. Results based on a large nationally representative sample in the United Kingdom suggest that the age of menarche was negatively associated with daily hours of SNS use, and that BMI elevation partially mediated this association. These results extend the negative effects of the early onset of menstruation and imply that BMI control strategies may help to reduce the use of SNS in girls who experience menarche at an earlier age.

Suggested Citation

  • Chenyu Lv & Ofir Turel & Qinghua He, 2021. "The Onset of Menstruation and Social Networking Site Use in Adolescent Girls: The Mediating Role of Body Mass Index," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-9, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:9942-:d:640260
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hiu Yan Wong & Hoi Yi Mo & Marc N. Potenza & Mung Ni Monica Chan & Wai Man Lau & Tsz Kwan Chui & Amir H. Pakpour & Chung-Ying Lin, 2020. "Relationships between Severity of Internet Gaming Disorder, Severity of Problematic Social Media Use, Sleep Quality and Psychological Distress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Meng-Che Tsai & Carol Strong & Wan-Ting Chen & Chih-Ting Lee & Chung-Ying Lin, 2018. "Longitudinal impacts of pubertal timing and weight status on adolescent Internet use: Analysis from a cohort study of Taiwanese youths," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(5), pages 1-10, May.
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