December 1, 2025Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services1 citations

Social Media Use and Perceived Consequences of Use in Youth With and Without Suicide Attempts: A Case–Control Study

JZJamie ZelaznyUniversity of Pittsburgh CBCandice BiernesserUniversity of Pittsburgh GTGrace Tetteh

Key Points

Youth with suicide attempt history reported higher problematic social media use, and increased negative social comparison with peers.
Groups showed no significant differences in social support derived from online interactions or in their social media use patterns.
Cross-sectional, case-control study design highlighted distinct mental health implications associated with social media participation.
Policies must address both positive and negative social media exposure effects concerning mental health and self-harm.

Abstract

Purpose: There has been increased concern about the effects of social media (SM) use on youth mental health. The current pilot study explored differences in SM use in youth with prior suicide attempts compared to youth with no prior suicide attempts. Method: This was a cross-sectional, case–control study comparing youth with and without suicide attempt history on patterns of SM use and perceived effects of SM on mental health. Results: Groups did not differ significantly on social support derived from online interactions or in their SM use (e.g., passively or actively), except those with suicide attempt history used SM to communicate about mental health. Youth with suicide attempt history reported significantly higher problematic SM use, more interference with sleep, and increased negative social comparison compared to their peers without suicide attempts. Conclusion: SM use policies must address positive and negative effects derived from SM, including exposure to online content about self-harm.

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