Introduction
Perceived social isolation (PSI) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality.
Social media platforms, commonly used by young adults, may offer an opportunity to
ameliorate social isolation. This study assessed associations between social media
use (SMU) and PSI among U.S. young adults.
Methods
Participants were a nationally representative sample of 1,787 U.S. adults aged 19–32
years. They were recruited in October–November 2014 for a cross-sectional survey using
a sampling frame that represented 97% of the U.S. population. SMU was assessed using
both time and frequency associated with use of 11 social media platforms, including
Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Vine,
Snapchat, and Reddit. PSI was measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement
Information System scale. In 2015, ordered logistic regression was used to assess
associations between SMU and SI while controlling for eight covariates.
Results
In fully adjusted multivariable models that included survey weights, compared with
those in the lowest quartile for SMU time, participants in the highest quartile had
twice the odds of having greater PSI (AOR=2.0, 95% CI=1.4, 2.8). Similarly, compared
with those in the lowest quartile, those in the highest quartile of SMU frequency
had more than three times the odds of having greater PSI (AOR=3.4, 95% CI=2.3, 5.1).
Associations were linear (p<0.001 for all), and results were robust to all sensitivity analyses.
Conclusions
Young adults with high SMU seem to feel more socially isolated than their counterparts
with lower SMU. Future research should focus on determining directionality and elucidating
reasons for these associations.
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Published online: March 06, 2017
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© 2017 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Journal of Preventive Medicine
