Social media use and physical health

Social media use was correlated with worse physical health indicators among college students, according to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. Click here to read the article now.

David Lee, PhD, from the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, and coauthors demonstrated that social media use was associated with higher levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a biological marker of chronic inflammation in the blood that is associated with chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Social media use was also related to experiencing more frequent somatic symptoms. It also positively correlated with more visits to the doctor or health centers for an illness.

High levels of social media use or screen time may negatively affect physical health in multiple ways. For example, it may reduce users’ amount and quality of sleep. Hyperconnectivity may also increase stress or displace health-promoting activities such as exercise.

“Given the prevalence of social media in daily lives and the importance of social relationships to physical health, we call for additional research to examine the relationship between social media use and physical health by utilizing diverse methodologies,” state the investigators.

“This NIH-supported research, using an objective biomarker, further advances our understanding of the negative impact social media may have on one’s health. It will be important in future studies to explore which types of media use may be most detrimental, as well as how factors such as self-esteem, may moderate the link between social media and physical health,” says Editor-in-Chief Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCB, BCN, Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, California and Virtual Reality Medical Institute, Brussels, Belgium.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institutes of Health under Award NumberUL1TR001070. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

About the Journal

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly online with Open Access options and in print that explores the psychological and social issues surrounding the Internet and interactive technologies.  Complete tables of contents and a sample issue may be viewed on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research. A complete list of the firm’s more than 100 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.