• Home
  • Store
    • Newsletter Subscriptions
    • Multimedia Subscriptions
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • ABPN SA Courses
  • CME Center
  • Multimedia
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
    • Blog
  • Newsletters
    • General Psychiatry
    • Child Psychiatry
    • Addiction Treatment
    • Hospital Psychiatry
    • Geriatric Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapy and Social Work
  • Log In
  • Register
  • Welcome
  • Sign Out
  • Subscribe
Home » Psychological Benefits of Abstaining from Social Media
RESEARCH UPDATE

Psychological Benefits of Abstaining from Social Media

sad_canstockphoto23864872.jpg
September 12, 2023
Michael Posternak, MD.
From The Carlat Psychotherapy Report
Issue Links: Editorial Information

Dr. Posternak has no financial relationships with companies related to this material. 

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the feasibility of abstaining from social media and its effects on mental health.

2. Evaluate the relationship between social media use and depression.


REVIEW OF: Lambert, J., Barnstable, G., Minter, E., Cooper, J., & McEwan, D. (2022). Taking a One-Week Break from Social Media Improves Well-Being, Depression, and Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking, 25(5), 287–293. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2021.0324 

TYPE OF STUDY: Randomized-controlled trial

It has long been speculated that spending too much time on social media might have negative effects on mental health. After all, who wouldn’t get depressed seeing how much fun everyone else in the world seems to be having? Although studies have consistently found a link between excessive social media use and depression, it can be hard to tell whether social media use exacerbates depression or is the result of it.

In this study, researchers recruited 154 volunteers from the community who agreed to be randomized to either continuing social media use as usual or abstaining from it for one week. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok were the four platforms they focused on. The mean age of subjects was 29 years, and subjects spent on average just over one hour a day on social media. Subjects were not required to suffer from a mood or anxiety disorder to participate, although about one third of the subjects did meet criteria for moderate depression. The main outcomes of interest were reduction in depression and anxiety scores as well as overall sense of well-being.

In order to facilitate refraining from social media, participants were provided with tips for abstaining, such as signing out of relevant social media sites, deleting apps, turning off social media notifications, turning off their phones, and downloading app blockers. Screen time use was monitored using relevant apps.

The first finding of interest is that abstaining from social media is indeed feasible, at least in the short term. Subjects randomized to social media abstinence reduced their screen time use on average from 510 minutes to 21 minutes over the course of the 1-week trial. This reduction in social media use was associated with improvements in depression, anxiety, and well-being scores, though the effect on depression was only apparent in those with at least mild depressive symptoms. One limitation of the study is that the subjects who volunteered were likely a select group who were already motivated to abstain. It remains unknown how realistic abstaining from social media is for most people, or whether it can be maintained much beyond one week.

CARLAT TAKE

This study strongly suggests that social media use has detrimental effects on mental health. There are many lifestyle changes, such as increasing exercise, getting adequate sleep, reducing alcohol intake, or cleaning the house, that we routinely recommend to our patients. It may be time to add reducing social media use to that list. 

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in The Carlat Psychiatry Report.

Psychology and Social Work
KEYWORDS depression mood disorders social media technology
    Michael Posternak, MD.

    Are Two Antidepressants Better Than One?

    More from this author
    www.thecarlatreport.com
    Issue Date: July 9, 2023
    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Table Of Contents
    Cognitive Remediation: A Game Changer for Clients with Mental Illness
    Mood Stabilizers in Bipolar Disorder: What Therapists Need to Know
    A Psychiatrist Reflects on Psychotherapy: An Interview with Allen Frances
    Psychological Benefits of Abstaining from Social Media
    The Psychodynamics of Psychopharmacology: Reimagining the “Med Check”
    Strategies for Treating Trauma in Intimate Partner Violence Survivors
    Using Self-Help Skills for Recovery: The WRAP Approach
    Motivational Interviewing: A Tool to Help Treat Substance Use Disorders
    How to Advise Clients About Light Therapy
    Using DBT Skills in Everyday Clinical Practice: An In-Depth Overview for Therapists
    CBT With Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD
    Pharmacotherapy for Panic Disorder: What Therapists Need to Know
    Medications to Treat OCD: What Psychotherapists Need to Know
    Strategies for Managing Panic Disorder
    The WRAP Approach to Recovery: The Essentials
    Exploring the Complexities of Self-Harm Among Youth
    Featured Book
    • PB4e_Cover2.png

      Psychiatry Practice Boosters, Fourth Edition (2023)

      Teaches you the key points of 63 of the most clinically relevant studies in psychiatry.
      READ MORE
    Featured Video
    • therapist_canstockphoto9201097.jpg
      General Psychiatry

      Using SAMe In Clinical Practice with Garrett Rossi, MD

      Read More
    Featured Podcast
    • canstockphoto6759394.jpg
      General Psychiatry

      Throwback Thursday: Brief Therapy for ADHD

      You started a stimulant medication for a young woman with ADHD. When she returns her symptoms are 70% better, but what can we do about the rest? Today a conversation with...

      Listen now
    Recommended
    • Approaches to Autism Intervention

      January 31, 2022
      canstockphoto2240982_child-bubbles_thumb.jpg
    • Currently Available Cannabis Products

      September 1, 2022
    • Interpreting Assessment Discrepancies from Multiple Sources

      October 17, 2022
      ChildAssessment.png
    • Approaches to Autism Intervention

      January 31, 2022
      canstockphoto2240982_child-bubbles_thumb.jpg
    • Currently Available Cannabis Products

      September 1, 2022
    • Interpreting Assessment Discrepancies from Multiple Sources

      October 17, 2022
      ChildAssessment.png
    • Approaches to Autism Intervention

      January 31, 2022
      canstockphoto2240982_child-bubbles_thumb.jpg
    • Currently Available Cannabis Products

      September 1, 2022
    • Interpreting Assessment Discrepancies from Multiple Sources

      October 17, 2022
      ChildAssessment.png

    About

    • About Us
    • CME Center
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us

    Shop Online

    • Newsletters
    • Multimedia Subscriptions
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • ABPN Self-Assessment Courses

    Newsletters

    • The Carlat Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Addiction Treatment Report
    • The Carlat Hospital Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Geriatric Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Psychotherapy Report

    Contact

    info@thecarlatreport.com

    866-348-9279

    PO Box 626, Newburyport MA 01950

    Follow Us

    Please see our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Subscription Agreement, Use of Cookies, and Hardware/Software Requirements to view our website.

    © 2023 Carlat Publishing, LLC and Affiliates, All Rights Reserved.