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Through the Looking Glass of Social Media. Focus on Self-Presentation and Association with Mental Health and Quality of Life. A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study

Author

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  • Jens Christoffer Skogen

    (Department of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 5015 Bergen, Norway
    Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Measures, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway
    Alcohol and Drug Research Western Norway, Stavanger University Hospital, 4010 Stavanger, Norway
    Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, 4021 Stavanger, Norway)

  • Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland

    (Department of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 5015 Bergen, Norway
    Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Measures, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway)

  • Tormod Bøe

    (Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway)

  • Randi Træland Hella

    (Department of Work, Social Services and Housing, Bergen Municipality, 5020 Bergen, Norway)

  • Ann Kristin Knudsen

    (Department of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 5015 Bergen, Norway
    Centre for Disease Burden, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 5015 Bergen, Norway)

Abstract

Social media (SOME) use among adolescents has been linked to mental health and well-being. SOME self-presentation has been highlighted as an important factor to better understand the potential links. The aims of this study were to investigate the association between focus on SOME self-presentation and mental health and quality of life among adolescents. We used a cross-sectional survey, with n = 513 (56%; mean age 17.1 years; 58% boys) students from a senior high school in Norway. Associations between focus on SOME self-presentation and symptoms of anxiety and depression and quality of life were investigated using blobbograms, standardized mean difference (SMD), and gender-specific linear regression models. A high focus on SOME self-presentation was associated with more mental health problems and reduced quality of life. The strength of the associations with symptoms of depression (0.75SMD) and anxiety (0.71SMD) was large, while it was medium-large for quality of life (−0.58SMD). The association was similar across gender in relation to symptoms of anxiety. For symptoms of depression and quality of life, the association was stronger for girls compared to boys. Our findings yield preliminary evidence of a potential relationship between focus on SOME self-presentation and mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Jens Christoffer Skogen & Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland & Tormod Bøe & Randi Træland Hella & Ann Kristin Knudsen, 2021. "Through the Looking Glass of Social Media. Focus on Self-Presentation and Association with Mental Health and Quality of Life. A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3319-:d:522741
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xiaochun Xie & Xingchao Wang & Fengqing Zhao & Li Lei & Gengfeng Niu & Pengcheng Wang, 2018. "Online Real-Self Presentation and Depression among Chinese Teens: Mediating Role of Social Support and Moderating Role of Dispositional Optimism," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 11(5), pages 1531-1544, October.
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    4. Kietzmann, Jan H. & Hermkens, Kristopher & McCarthy, Ian P. & Silvestre, Bruno S., 2011. "Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 54(3), pages 241-251, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kalai Hung & Naomi A. Lee & Kaiping Peng & Jie Sui, 2021. "Profile Pictures in the Digital World: Self-Photographs Predict Better Life Satisfaction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-10, June.
    2. Amanda Iselin Olesen Andersen & Turi Reiten Finserås & Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland & Tormod Bøe & Børge Sivertsen & Ian Colman & Randi Træland Hella & Jens Christoffer Skogen, 2024. "Can Social Media Use Be More Health-Promoting? Description and Pilot Evaluation of a School-Based Program to Increase Awareness and Reflection on the Use of Social Media," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, May.

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