Correlation Between Teens' Social Media Time and Restrictive Eating

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by CTV News.

Researchers at Sainte-Justine Hospital in Montreal have found a correlation in teenagers between the amount of time spent on social media and restrictive eating behaviors or eating disorders.

The findings were published in the journal Psychology & Health and followed 3,801 high school students over five years.

"Social media makes you feel less good about yourself and promotes a desire to be thinner, to have concerns about your weight, and potentially engage in restrictive behaviors," said lead author Patricia Conrod.

Her previous work researching a link between social media and depression was used during a 2021 Congressional hearing where Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was questioned about the link.

Conrod said it can fuel a downward spiral where looking at an app can generate negative emotions, but instead of turning away, it can lead to more time scrolling.

"The more you are in a lower mood, the more you'll turn to social media, and the more social media will impact on your mood in a negative spiral," she said.

Source: CTV News
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/correlation-between-teens-social-media-time-and-restrictive-eating-montreal-study-1.6245377