Date of Award
Summer 8-16-2024
Level of Access Assigned by Author
Open-Access Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Advisor
Cynthia A Erdley
Second Committee Member
Emily A P Haigh
Third Committee Member
Jordan LaBouff
Additional Committee Members
Mollie Ruben
Rebecca Schwartz-Mette
Abstract
The current study sought to examine the various psychosocial vulnerabilities to depressive symptoms experienced by older adolescents with a particular focus on maladaptive interpersonal processes, social media use, and exposure to COVID-19-related stressors. Participants (N=471 undergraduate students) completed self-report measures examining interpersonal behaviors, quality and quantity of time spent on social media, exposure to COVID-19-related stressors, and depressive symptoms. A subset of participants (n=304) were iPhone users with the Screen Time application tracking their social media use on their phone. These participants specifically reported time spent on social media on their phones, which was used to examine hypotheses specific to time spent on social media.
Numerous findings reported in the previous literature regarding the relationship of friendship processes and depression as well as the relationship among maladaptive social media behaviors were replicated in the present study. In addition, there were several novel findings, including time spent on social media strengthening the relationship between high levels of excessive reassurance seeking and depressive symptoms as well as strengthening the relationship between being a woman and depressive symptoms. Additionally, there were novel findings about COVID-19 social stressors, along with excessive reassurance seeking, as well as these stressors and social media addiction predicting depressive symptoms. These results suggest that COVID-19 may have led to new vulnerabilities to depressive symptoms for adolescents. The current study sheds light on the additional psychosocial vulnerabilities experienced by current older adolescents that may be increasing risk for depression.
Recommended Citation
Raymond, Emily Scarpulla, "Social Media and Maladaptive Friendship Processes During COVID-19: Examining Unique Psychosocial Vulnerabilities" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4010.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd/4010