Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Apr 4, 2023
Date Accepted: Apr 5, 2023
Correction: The Association of a Geographically Wide Social Media Network on Depression: County-Level Ecological Analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
Social connectedness decreases human mortality, improves cancer survival, cardiovascular health, and body mass, results in better-controlled glucose levels, and strengthens mental health. However, there has been little research on the composition and geographic reach rather than utilization of individuals’ social media networks.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to determine the association of population-level online social connectedness/reach and depression in the population across geographies of the United States.
Methods:
Our study utilized an ecological assessment of aggregated, cross-sectional population measures of social connectedness and self-reported depression across all counties in the United States. This study included all 3,142 counties in the contiguous United States. We used aggregated population measures obtained between 2018 and 2020 for adult residents in the study area. The study’s main exposure of interest is the Social Connectedness Index, a pair-wise composite index describing the “strength of connectedness between two geographic areas as represented by Facebook friendship ties”. This measure describes the geographic reach of county residents’ social network using Facebook friendships and can differentiate between local versus long-distance Facebook connections. The study’s outcome of interest is self-reported depressive disorder as published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Results:
On average, 21.0% of all United States residents reported a depressive disorder. The population frequency of depression was the lowest for counties in the Northeast (18.6%) and was highest for Southern counties (22.4%). Compared to the overall 20th percentile for the whole United States, counties in the Northeast most frequently had a Social Connectedness Index of 5-10x (36.41%), indicating an average level of local connections. Midwest, Southern, and Western counties most frequently had a Social Connectedness Index that was 1-2x (56.68%, 28.20%, and 38.41%, respectively), indicating mostly local connections. For higher Social Connectedness Index percentile of the population, the proportion of depression decreased by -0.25% (standard error = 0.05).
Conclusions:
Social connectedness and depression showed, after adjusting for confounding factors such as income, education, co-habitation, natural resources, employment categories, accessibility, and urbanicity that a greater social connectedness score is associated with decreased prevalence of depression. Clinical Trial: N/A
Citation
Per the author's request the PDF is not available.
Copyright
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