Data show 20% rise in anxiety-disorder reports
The study on "Social Media and Mental Health," led by Dr. Roee Levy of the Berglas School of Economics at Tel Aviv University together with colleagues Prof. Alexey Makarin and Prof. LuTca Braghieri, zeroed in on the mental health trends of U.S. college students, the network's original target demographic, during the first two-and-a-half years of its operation (2004-2006).
A detailed examination of data showed a correlation between a "statistically significant worsening in mental health symptoms, especially depression and anxiety" and the rapid introduction of the social media network.
A detailed examination of data showed a correlation between a "statistically significant worsening in mental health symptoms, especially depression and anxiety" and the rapid introduction of the social media network.
Some of the benchmarks include a 20% rise in those who reported anxiety disorders; an increase of 25% to 27% in the proportion of students expected to experience moderate to severe depression; an additional 7% of students experienced "severe depression" since gaining access to the network.
The introduction of Facebook, the study found, led to increased utilization of mental healthcare services.