Short communication, Note

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING AND DEPRESSION IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY VIEWPOINT

Igor Pantic ; Institute of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Aleksandar Damjanovic ; Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Jovana Todorovic ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Dubravka Topalovic ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Dragana Bojovic-Jovic ; Clinic “Narodni Front”, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Sinisa Ristic ; Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Eastern Sarajevo, Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Senka Pantic ; Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

Background: Frequent use of Facebook and other social networks is thought to be associated with certain behavioral changes,
and some authors have expressed concerns about its possible detrimental effect on mental health. In this work, we investigated the
relationship between social networking and depression indicators in adolescent population.
Subjects and methods: Total of 160 high school students were interviewed using an anonymous, structured questionnaire and
Back Depression Inventory – second edition (BDI-II-II). Apart from BDI-II-II, students were asked to provide the data for height and
weight, gender, average daily time spent on social networking sites, average time spent watching TV, and sleep duration in a 24-
hour period.
Results: Average BDI-II-II score was 8.19 (SD=5.86). Average daily time spent on social networking was 1.86h (SD=2.08h),
and average time spent watching TV was 2.44 h (SD=1.74h). Average body mass index of participants was 21.84 (SD=3.55) and
average sleep duration was 7.37 (SD=1.82). BDI-II-II score indicated minimal depression in 104 students, mild depression in 46
students, and moderate depression in 10 students. Statistically significant positive correlation (p<0.05, R=0.15) was found between
BDI-II-II score and the time spent on social networking.
Conclusions: Our results indicate that online social networking is related to depression. Additional research is required to
determine the possible causal nature of this relationship.

Keywords

depression; social network; Facebook; BDI-II; high school students

Hrčak ID:

106209

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/106209

Publication date:

25.3.2012.

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