Social Media Influence on Mental Health and Obesity of Adolescents Attending Primary Care Settings in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study, 2024

Background: Social media use has become highly prevalent among adolescents and has been linked to both positive and negative health outcomes. However, evidence regarding its relationship with mental health and obesity remains inconsistent, and limited data are available from primary care settings in Qatar. This study aimed to describe patterns of social media use and adolescents’ perceptions regarding its effects and to examine associations between active social media engagement, mental health outcomes, and BMI-for-age among adolescents attending Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) health centers in Qatar. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 5th May 2024 to 30th June 2024 among adolescents aged 11–17 years attending six PHCC health centers across Qatar. Participants were recruited using systematic random sampling. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, social media use, frequency of active social media engagement, and participants’ perceptions regarding the effects of social media. Mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and anger, were assessed using PROMIS Emotional Distress scales, while anthropometric measurements were used to calculate BMI-for-age z-scores. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariable logistic regression models were performed. Results: A total of 429 adolescents participated in the study. Overall, 25.3% of participants were classified as overweight and 21.7% as obese. Moderate-to-severe anxiety, depression, and anger were reported by 16.2%, 11.4%, and 10.3% of participants, respectively. TikTok (56.9%), Snapchat (48.7%), and Instagram (47.3%) were the most frequently used social media platforms. While 58.2% of participants perceived social media as having positive effects on communication and relationships, many also perceived it to contribute to obesity (47.6%), mental health disorders (41.7%), and excessive screen time (58.3%). However, these findings represented participants’ perceptions rather than objectively measured effects. Statistical analyses demonstrated limited evidence of associations between the measured frequency of active social media engagement and BMI-for-age, depression, anxiety, or anger. In multivariable analyses, higher household income was associated with increased odds of moderate-to-severe anxiety; however, the overall regression model was not statistically significant, and the finding should therefore be interpreted cautiously. Conclusions: Adolescents attending primary care services in Qatar reported substantial social media use, notable levels of emotional distress, and a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. Although many participants perceived social media as having adverse effects on health and well-being, statistical analyses provided limited evidence of associations between the measured frequency of active social media engagement and mental health outcomes or BMI-for-age. These findings highlight the importance of distinguishing perceived effects from observed associations and highlight the need for longitudinal studies using more comprehensive measures of social media use to better understand potential relationships with adolescent health outcomes.