In a recent article published in JAMA network openresearchers conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,231 transgender, nonbinary (TGNB), and cisgender youth in the United States (US) and found that gender identity was associated with social media use (SMU) and mental health indicators. We investigated how to moderate this relationship.
This includes internalizing and externalizing issues such as depression, body image, and conduct issues.
background
Many people with TGNB experience gender dysphoria, a distressing condition that results from a discrepancy between the gender assigned at birth and their self-perceived gender identity. They also experience minority stress within a majority social environment fostered through social processes that harass and discriminate against TGNB individuals.
Social media activity provides individuals with TGNB an avenue to express themselves as they see fit, build positive connections, and build a support system to protect their mental health. However, how TGNB youth use social media outside of sexual identity exploration is understudied.
There are concerns that SMU may have a negative impact on mental health, with some researchers suggesting there is a link between time spent on social media and struggles with mental health. In this study, researchers considered minority stress theory and found that while this may hold true for cisgender youth, SMU may be more protective for TGNB youth and may increase mental health risks. I hypothesized that there might not be.
About research
For the current study, researchers used a Qualtrics panel to recruit transgender adolescent participants between the ages of 10 and 17 living in the United States to immediately complete an online survey between May and August 2021. answered.
They selected this age range to be representative of U.S. youth because substantial gender identity development occurs during adolescence. Study participants self-reported their race and ethnicity, including American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, black, Hispanic, white, and mixed.
The researchers measured depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), with responses ranging from 1 (not at all) to 4 (almost every day). They measured emotional and behavioral problems using the five-item Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Additionally, he used a 5-point Likert scale to assess their body image. 1 and 5 indicate never to be ashamed to always to be ashamed.
The study variables are: Duration of social media use. Age when first used a smartphone. Whether the use is active or passive. How did social media sites compare? Did they intentionally take their hands off their smartphones? Did they feel there was a problem with her SMU? Digital wellbeing in schools attended. Whether you have cleaned or curated your social media feeds and followers. and their mindfulness regarding SMU.
Finally, the research team recruited seven adolescents from the two focus groups to serve as advisory members, allowing for an insider’s perspective and collaborative interpretation of the study results. The first and second focus groups each consisted of four cisgender youth aged 14–17 and three her TGNB youth aged 14–16.
result
This study made a number of important discoveries. First, compared to cisgender youth, TGNB youth had more depression, emotional and conduct problems, and negative body image. However, social media use has been associated with fewer mental health problems, possibly because they are carefully creating a digital space free from the negative interactions that plague them elsewhere, such as at school. I did.
Thus, feed cleaning and selection reduced depression levels in TGNB youth, but not in cisgender youth. Researchers hypothesize that this may be due to TGNB youth controlling safe spaces for bullying and harassment. One participant said that being surrounded by people with similar beliefs gave him more control over his online space.
Further research is needed to understand why the pattern was reversed for cisgender youth. Researchers hypothesize that perhaps there was a fear of offending colleagues by unfollowing them on social media. In other words, they benefited from quitting social media rather than curating their feeds.
Another observation that restores the delicate balance between gender identity-related risks and benefits of SMU in youth is that intentional technology breaks were significantly associated with increased depression and emotional problems in TGNB. However, this was not the case for cisgender youth.
Indeed, for TGNB youth, social media was an important means of social acceptance. Therefore, breaks can have a negative impact on their mental health. For TGNB youth, attending a school with a strong media literacy program led to positive outcomes. This made us even more intentional about SMU.
conclusion
Although TGNB youth face minority stress every day, social media may actually have a protective effect on TGNB youth, and their parents and guardians are aware that screen time can lead to psychological stress. Rather than focusing on how social media affects children, we could focus more on how social media can be a resource for children. Health struggles.
Similarly, policy makers and school officials should design policies that take into account the differential relevance of SMU based on gender identity. Policies that severely limit youth’s SMU may not be the best outcome for TGNB youth. Instead, schools should encourage school media literacy programs.
Most importantly, pediatricians or physicians treating adolescents should consider asking about the details of SMU. Patient questions should go beyond screen time during the consultation, and the approach should be more nuanced based on the patient’s gender identity.
Findings suggest that while TGNB youth are at higher risk for negative mental health outcomes than cisgender youth, this higher risk is not associated with time spent on social media.
On the contrary, SMU seemed to reduce mental health problems. Social media can even be a protection for some TGNB youth, especially if used properly. This paper highlights and emphasizes that researchers should pay particular attention to gender identity when investigating the association between SMU and health.