Using the social media site Facebook could lead to symptoms of depression, according to a study from University of Houston published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, USA Today reported.
Mai-Ly Steers, a researcher at the University of Houston, carried out studies to evaluate how social comparison to friends on the social network might impact psychological health of Facebook users. Studies showed that Facebook users felt depressed when comparing themselves to their friends.
Steers said that it does not mean that Facebook leads to depression, but that lots of time on Facebook, and comparing oneself to friends and depressed feelings tend to go together.
Scientists tracked 154 people aged between 18 and 42 who used Facebook regularly. They asked subjects to answer nightly well-established questionnaires to analyze depressive symptoms and levels of social comparisons. Researchers found that individuals who log on to Facebook more often evaluate themselves against their peers more frequently and experience more symptoms of depression, according to Chron.
Those depressive symptoms include feelings of sadness, being irritated by mundane things and lack of hope for a better future. The symptoms were particularly pronounced in college students, who are more vulnerable to friend influences or may be trying hard to build their identities.
Steers said that previous research and this research shows that the act of socially comparing oneself to peers is related to emotions that are destructive. Benefits gained from making social comparisons are short-term and engaging in social comparison may be connected with lower well-being.