Scrolling into silence: Social media engagement and its linkage to affective disorders among 10-14 years old in Austria

The use of social media platforms has become an integral part of many people’s lives. Also, early adolescents are frequent users of various platforms. While social media use can have both positive and negative effects, this largely depends on how and to which extent the platforms are used. Existing studies have shown that problematic social media use (PSMU) is associated with different depressive symptoms in adolescents and adults. This study examines the impact of PSMU on the mental well-being of youth in early adolenscence, a population group that has less frequently been researched. The sample comprised 612 Austrian early adolescents aged 10 to 14 from both rural and urban schools. Factors such as gender, age, socioeconomic status (SES) and family history of depression were considered. The results indicate that PSMU in early adolescents is linked to three dimensions of depressive symptoms: dysphoria, agitated behavior, and fatigue . The findings suggest that not only the use of social media platforms but particularly their problematic use can lead to reduced psychological well-being. These findings highlight that social media use can have undesirable effects on early adolescent’s well-being. Therefore, continued research in this field is crucial to develop early interventions that minimize PSMU and promote the mental well-being of early adolescents, even when they engage with social media platforms. • Problematic social media use (PSMU) impacts the well-being of children • Multilevel analyses account for classroom contexts in PSMU • Significant interaction effects between platform use and depressive symptoms • Findings emphasize the need for early interventions targeting PSMU