A study published in the journal Technology Mind and Behavior that was conducted by researchers at Iowa State University suggests that cutting back on social media will help to reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, fear, and loneliness.u00a0
In two studies using nationally representative data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study gathered on thousands of Americans, researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health have significantly added to evidence that social isolation is a substantial risk factor for dementia in community-dwelling (noninstitutionalized) older adults, and identified technology as an effective way to intervene.
Question:u00a0 Is adolescentsu2019 frequency of checking behaviors on 3 social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat) associated with longitudinal changes in functional brain development across adolescence?
Findings:u00a0 In this cohort study of 169 sixth- and seventh-grade students, participants who engaged in habitual checking behaviors showed a distinct neurodevelopmental trajectory within regions of the brain comprising the affective salience, motivational, and cognitive control networks in response to anticipating social rewards and punishments compared with those who engaged in nonhabitual checking behaviors.
Meaning:u00a0 Social media platforms provide adolescents with unprecedented opportunities for social interactions during a critical developmental period when the brain is especially sensitive to social feedback. These results suggest that habitual checking of social media in early adolescence may be longitudinally associated with changes in neural sensitivity to anticipation of social rewards and punishments, which could have implications for psychological adjustment.
Researchers in public policy and education recently found that young adults who use more social media are significantly more likely to develop depression within six months, regardless of personality type.
u00a0Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, the study, "Associations between social media use, personality structure, and development of depression," was co-authored by Renae Merrill, a doctoral student in the Public Policy Program at the University of Arkansas.
As social media use increases, there's a growing concern about its effects on mental health. Social media users spend at least two hours a day worldwide on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For some, social media is a positive experience. It connects them with friends and families where they share exciting moments and stay up-to-date on current events
However, for others, social media has adverse effects. Studies have linked social media use to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. If you're concerned about how social media impacts your mental health, there are a few things you can do to limit its effects.
Physical and mental activities, such as household chores, exercise, and visiting with family and friends, may help lower the risk of dementia, according to a new study published in the July 27, 2022, online issue of Neurologyu00ae, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study looked at the effects of these activities, as well as mental activities and use of electronic devices in people both with and without a higher genetic risk for dementia.
Last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and the Childrenu2019s Hospital Association declared a national emergency in childrenu2019s mental health. Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, mounting challenges across the spectrum of childcare have deepened disparities in pediatric primary care and are particularly evident in racial and ethnic minority groups. At the same time, pandemic conditions have led many children to lose their caregivers and forced them into increased social isolation u2013 all of which has culminated in a mental health crisis among the youngest of the population.
Regular doses of the hormone oxytocin do not appear to overcome deficits in social functioning among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), suggests a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The findings contradict earlier reports that indicated the hormone could alleviate the difficulties in social functioning characteristic of ASD. Oxytocin is associated with empathy and social bonding. The study was conducted by Linmarie Sikich, M.D., of Duke University, and colleagues. It appears in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Specific subpopulations of brain cells in the prefrontal cortex, which is a key part of the brain that regulates social behaviour, have been identified by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai that are required for normal sociability in adulthood and they are profoundly vulnerable to juvenile isolation in animal studies.u00a0
As a method of novel coronavirus disease transmission suppression and an attempt to reduce the risk of infection, social restrictions u2013 such as social distancing and sheltering in place u2013 have been put into place and remain active in the majority of the United States. Such measures have isolated many older adults at home, leaving them with limited contact and social interaction for the duration of the outbreak. As evidenced by global statistics revealing higher death rates among this demographic, the COVID-19 pandemic has been disproportionately affecting older adults.
