A study of 3,034 Swedish teenagers has found that the relationship between online communication and mental well-being varies depending on how frequently adolescents communicate and the type of friends they interact with.
Researchers have found that online communication with friends is associated with adolescents’ mental well-being, but its effects differ according to the nature of friendships and the frequency of interactions. The findings, published in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, highlight the importance of considering who teenagers communicate with online when examining the relationship between digital interactions and mental health.
The study analysed responses from 3,034 15-year-olds who participated in the 2017/2018 and 2021/2022 Swedish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children surveys.
Online Communication With Close Friends Linked to Better Well-Being
The researchers found that intense online communication with close friends and larger groups was associated with better mental well-being among adolescents.
However, the relationship differed when teenagers communicated with friends they knew exclusively online. Moderate or intense communication with online-only friends was associated with poorer mental well-being.
These associations were particularly evident among girls and adolescents who perceived their families as less wealthy.
The findings suggest that the relationship between online communication and adolescent well-being cannot be understood simply by measuring how frequently teenagers use digital platforms. The type of social relationships involved also matters.
Social Context Matters in Adolescent Online Interactions
Commenting on the findings, corresponding author Associate Professor Viviane S. Straatmann, PhD, from the Department of Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University, Sweden, highlighted the importance of understanding the social context of online communication.
“Amid growing concern about young people’s online lives, our findings suggest that it is not only how much adolescents communicate online that matters, but also who they communicate with,” said Straatmann.
“This highlights the importance of considering the social context of online interactions when discussing their implications for adolescent well-being.”
The research adds to discussions about teenagers’ digital lives by showing that communication patterns and friendship types are both relevant when examining mental well-being.
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