Question 1

Colditz, J,. Lin, L., Miller, E., Primack, B., Rosen, D., Shensa, A., Sidani, J., Whaite, E.,

(2017) Social Media Use and Perceived Social Isolation Among Young Adults in the U.S.

Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania, Department of medicine http://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0134

Abstract:

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. Participants were a nationally representative sample of 1,787 U.S.

adults aged 1932 years. They were recruited in OctoberNovember 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. 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. 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.

Question 2:

Young adults (19-32) seek out proliferating social media platforms as a means to increase

their interactions and engagement between individuals in attempts to ameliorate their

perceived social isolation (PSI) and health issues. A study conducted by Brian Primack (2017)

assessed the implications of social media usage (SMU) and PSI amongst young adults

revealed that higher SMU was linked with greater PSI, exacerbating the original condition

which was thought to remedy social isolation and health concerns. The cause of this ironic

effect can be attributed to various underlying effects as SMU supersedes face to face social

interaction (Berghand, 2017) and provides the illusion of companionship as they spend their

time predominantly on social media, limiting authentic experiences of friends and family.

Comparing the PSI indexes of participants (Primack, 2017) who used social media for < 30

minutes a day to those who used social media > 120 minutes a day, saw indexes of 1.2 and

2.0 respectively, almost doubling their PSI and exacerbating their original condition. To

extrapolate, results indicate robust linear associations of higher PSI and health concerns to

higher SMU and to a greater extent - substantial morbidity and mortality (Primack, 2017).

Thus, the irony of social media that was thought to increase social connections and alleviate

PSI and health issues is completely thwarted and consequently exacerbates PSI.
 Question 3

An individual's income substantially influences their PSI and consequently leads to many

perceived health issues. As in Brian Primacks study (2017), the results gathered showed

robust linear associations with individuals earning a lower income compared to those of a

higher income. While this is of significance to the scientific article as it acts as a potential

covariate, the readers of the social article would be focused on the crux of the issue - the links

between SMU and PSI. Introducing an individuals income as an argument weakens the

principal argument and readers could possibly not realise the significance of individual

income and its consequences on PSI. Conversely, in the scientific article, the results collated

indicates those with higher income have further implications as they have a greater degree

financial freedom and flexibility enabling them to pursue in events that do not require social

media which in turns lowers their exposure to social media and in turn their PSI. On the

contrary, those who reported a lower annual income did not have the same degree of financial

freedom and was characterised with low self-esteem and thus turned to social media and

severe ramifications ensued - doubling their PSI. Therefore, an individual's income

dramatically impacts their PSI and SMU albeit not included in the media report due to the

aforementioned reasons above.

 Question 4 - 4B

Individuals are subjected to different living conditions and circumstances which attribute to a

potential flaw with the research findings - it cannot be generalised towards young adults (19-

32) that live outside of the U.S. The living conditions of US cannot be compared to another

country such as China as they lead lifestyles that are systematically dissimilar from each

other and hence their frequency and social media usage will be different. For example, in

China, young adults are often pressured by parents to perform academically which requires

them to predominantly spend their time studying rather than accessing social media and thus

lowering their SMU. Accommodating for this flaw, the research must be reproduced in

another country with the same conditions and covariates to ensure that the results can be

generalised for that particular country as each country has different tendencies and

circumstances. The results collated should then be compared to those of the US and

identifying, similarities, differences to enable the results to be generalised for consistency

amongst countries. Thus, given the different living conditions and lifestyles of particular

countries, in order to generalise for the greater spectrum, the research has to be reproduced in

other countries with the same conditions to enable generalisation.

 Question 5

Reference:

Colditz, J,. Jacquelynn, J., Lin, L., Primack, B., Shensa, A., Sidani, J.,Terry, Martha. (2016)

Associations Between Internet-Based Professional Social Networking and Emotional Distress.

Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, American journal of

preventative medicine. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.010

Abstract:

Professional social networking websites are commonly used among young professionals. In

light of emerging concerns regarding social networking use and emotional distress, the

purpose of this study was to investigate the association between frequency of use of LinkedIn,

the most commonly used professional social networking website, and depression and anxiety

among young adults. In October 2014, we assessed a nationally representative sample of

1,780 U.S. young adults between the ages of 1932 regarding frequency of LinkedIn use,

depression and anxiety, and sociodemographic covariates. We measured depression and

anxiety using validated Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System

measures. We used bivariable and multivariable logistic regression to assess the association

between LinkedIn use and depression and anxiety, while controlling for age, sex, race,

relationship status, living situation, household income, education level, and overall social

media use. In weighted analyses, 72% of participants did not report use of LinkedIn, 16%

reported at least some use, but less than once each week, and 12% reported use at least once

per week. In multivariable analyses controlling for all covariates, compared with those who

did not use LinkedIn, participants using LinkedIn at least once per week had significantly
greater odds of increased depression (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.10, 95% confidence

interval [CI] = 1.313.38) and increased anxiety (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.724.53).

LinkedIn use was significantly related to both outcomes in a doseresponse manner. Future

research should investigate directionality of this association and possible reasons for it.

High social media usage often imposes health ramifications such as emotional distress and

perceived social isolation. As both of these studies revolve around social media usage, they

are extremely similar in nature as they both investigate the underlying effects of social media

usage (SMU). As a result, the data collated in both studies correlate to a certain degree and

inferences can be made through these data. Furthermore, PSI and emotional distress, both of

which are the crux of the arguments in their respective studies can be extrapolated to other

health issues such as depression; hence the above article is relevant and important.
Reference list:

Colditz, J,. Jacquelynn, J., Lin, L., Primack, B., Shensa, A., Sidani, J.,Terry, Martha. (2016)

Associations Between Internet-Based Professional Social Networking and Emotional Distress.

Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, American journal of

preventative medicine. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.010

Colditz, J,. Lin, L., Miller, E., Primack, B., Rosen, D., Shensa, A., Sidani, J., Whaite, E.,

(2017) Social Media Use and Perceived Social Isolation Among Young Adults in the U.S.

Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania, Department of medicine http://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0134

Bergland, C. (2017) Social media exacerbates perceived social isolation. Retrieved from

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201703/social-media-exacerbates-

perceived-social-isolation