Mental Health, Online Help: Young Americans’ Well-Being & Online Media use During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: Poster Session 02
  In Poster Session: PS 02 Topic - Technology, Media & Child Development

Abstract

Study Objectives and Hypotheses. This nationally representative, probability-based survey assesses young Americans’ (ages 14-22) well-being during the pandemic, especially with regards to their online media and technology use.

Research suggests that people of color and lower-income backgrounds in America are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 (e.g., COVID Tracking Project, 2020; Karpman et al., 2020). Extending this research, part of this project examines how young Americans have felt pandemic stressors (e.g., a family member getting sick), hypothesizing that significantly more stressors will be felt by young Americans of color (compared to young White Americans; H1a), and of lower socioeconomic backgrounds (compared to higher ones; H1b).
An additional objective is to answer a call for more research focusing on how young people use media and technology for their well-being (Odgers & Robb, 2020). Given the widespread effects of COVID-19, we hypothesize that more young Americans have used media and technology for well-being purposes than a previous sample with pre-pandemic data from 2018 (H2). We also hypothesize, given the widespread measures of social distancing, that young people will place higher importance on using social media than before in terms of coping mechanisms, such as feeling less alone (H3). Lastly, given the mixed findings of the effects social media on depression and anxiety (for a review, see Odgers & Robb, 2020), we have open questions if young people think that social media helps or hurts when they feel depressed/anxious during the pandemic and their open-ended responses to why. We are interested if their perceptions and reasons differ by race/ethnicity (RQ1a, RQ2b) and/or socioeconomic backgrounds (RQ1b, RQ2b).

Methods. Data collection will begin in September 2020. English- and Spanish-speaking participants will be recruited through AmeriSpeak and Dynata for a 12-minute web or phone survey. We aim for at least 1,000 participants (500 age 14-17 and 500 age 18-22, with proportions of young people of color reflective of the overall U.S. population proportions). After providing consent, participants will answer questions regarding their demographics, use of technology for well-being purposes, frequency and reasons for social media use, the perceived effects of social media on their well-being, and the stressors and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will also be asked to fill out a scale for depression, anxiety, and problematic alcohol and drug use. At the end of the survey, participants will receive AmeriPoints as compensation, which can be redeemed for gift cards and products.

Analysis plan. Analyses will begin shortly after data collection is completed in October 2020. The analysis methods are as follows: H1 will be assessed with ANOVAs; H2, H3, and RQ1 with Kruskal-Wallis tests. Responses for RQ2 will be coded for social connection and feelings of overwhelm with news about current events, and then results will be analyzed with chi-square tests.

General implications. The project will shed further light on how inequalities in America shape young people’s well-being, and the ways in which young people are using media and technology to cope with stressors exacerbated and created by the pandemic.

Authors

• Alanna Peebles, San Diego State University
  Presenting Author

• Michael Robb, Common Sense Media
  Non-Presenting Author

• Vicky Rideout, VJR Consulting
  Non-Presenting Author