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even a short break social media may be enough to lift your spirits mental healthNew research has suggested.
Scientists found that detoxing for just one week was enough to cause significant decline Worry, Depression And according to the paper published in the journal, sleep problems in adolescents JAMA Network,
Researchers at Harvard University assessed the mental health of 295 young adults aged 18 to 24 for three weeks. During the first two weeks the participants used social media, but during the third week they all took a seven-day break.
The surprising findings showed that the detox reduced anxiety symptoms by 16 percent, depression by nearly 25 percent, and insomnia by 14 percent. Even more pronounced changes were seen in those who had more severe depressive symptoms at the beginning of the study.
However, the researchers said the social media break had no effect on loneliness rates, finding “no significant” changes between weeks.
Dr. John Torres, co-author of the study and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston, said the new York Times Cutting back on social media “shouldn’t be your first line or only form of care.”
“If you’re struggling with a mental health condition, and you already have treatment, that’s good
“It’s worth experimenting to see if reducing social media helps you feel better,” he advised, but cautioned against viewing the results as guaranteed for everyone.
He added: “The averages are encouraging, but they certainly don’t tell the whole story; the difference was tremendous.”
This one comes after University of Pennsylvania study Found that ownership and regular use smart fone can be linked to a series of events during your pre-teen years Mental And physical health Problems including depression and obesity.
study revealed Children Those who have devices at age 12 are more likely to develop problems obesityPoor sleep, and depression. As soon as a child acquires them smart foneThe results showed that their health outcomes were just as poor in those areas.
“Our findings suggest that we should view smartphones as an important factor in teen health, carefully consider the decision to give a child a phone, and consider the potential impacts on their lives and health,” said lead author Dr. Ryan Barzilay.
However, like Dr. Torres, he cautioned against viewing smartphones as bad for children’s mental health.
“For many teens, smartphones can play a constructive role by providing access to information and resources that strengthen social relationships, support learning, and promote personal development,” he said. “Similarly, some families may view smartphones as a necessity for security or communication.”