The relationship between adolescent technology use and depressive symptoms: an integrative model of offline and technology-based risk factors

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Nesi, Jacqueline
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

Abstract

This study examined the role that specific technology-based behaviors (social comparison and interpersonal feedback-seeking) and offline individual characteristics may play in the relationship between frequent technology use and depressive symptoms among adolescents. A total of 702 students (57% female; ages 12 to 16) completed self-report questionnaires at two time points. Adolescents reported on levels of depressive symptoms at baseline, and one year later on depressive symptoms, frequency of technology use (cell phones, Facebook, and Instagram), excessive reassurance-seeking, technology-based social comparison and feedback-seeking, and sociometric nominations of popularity. Consistent with hypotheses, path analyses supported a complex moderated mediation model of the longitudinal relationship between frequent technology use and depressive symptoms, whereby gender and popularity served as moderators and technology-based behaviors served as mediators. Effects were found above and beyond the effects of offline excessive reassurance seeking and prior depressive symptoms. Findings highlight the utility of examining psychological outcomes of adolescent's technology use within the framework of existing interpersonal models of adolescent depression and suggest the importance of more nuanced approaches to the study of adolescents' media use.

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