Increasing social media use trajectories are linked to greater eating disorder symptoms

This study examined the associations between social media use trajectories and eating disorder symptoms across early adolescence.

Data from 10,735 United States adolescents (48.9% female, mean baseline age 10 ± 0.7 years) participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study were analyzed. Adolescents self-reported social media use (average daily hours) from baseline (2016-2018) through Year 4 (2020-2022). Parent-reported eating disorder symptoms (experienced by adolescents) were assessed at baseline and Year 4: binge-eating symptoms, self-worth tied to weight, inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, worry about weight gain, and any eating disorder symptom. Group-based trajectory modeling identified social media trajectories from baseline to Year 4. Logistic regression models estimated associations between social media use trajectories and eating disorder symptoms at Year 4, adjusting for covariates, including baseline eating disorder symptoms.

Three social media use trajectories emerged: (1) no/very low use, (2) moderate, gradual increasing, and (3) rapid increasing. Compared with those in the no/very low use trajectory, adolescents in the moderate, gradual increasing, and rapid increasing trajectories had significantly higher odds of experiencing most eating disorder symptoms.

Adolescents with increasing social media use were more likely to experience a range of eating disorder symptoms.