David E. Szwedo, Amori Y. Mikami, & Joseph P. Allen University of Virginia 1

Current state of Internet use, online social communication, and social networking websites Observational social networking website coding methodology Review theory and findings between online social communication and: - Internalizing symptoms - Externalizing behavior - Friendships 2

Examine associations between youths’ observed online behavior and future: - Depressive symptoms - Intrusive behavior - Friendship competence Consider the significance of youths’ initial offline psychosocial functioning for predicting these future outcomes 3

93% of adolescents (ages 13-17) are currently online % of year-olds use social networking websites % of year-olds use social networking websites 6 Daily communication with friends 6 : - 42% send messages through social networking websites - 26% send instant messages - 16% send - 29% spend time with friends in person outside of school 4

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Teens and adults use social networks to make and maintain friendships 6 : Stay in touch with friends: - 91% of teens and 89% of adults Make plans with friends: - 72% of teens and 57% of adults Make new friends: - 49% of teens and 49% of adults 8

Sample 63 young adults Drawn from larger study of adolescents, their parents, and friends 25 males / 38 females Assessed at ages 20 & 21 Socio-economically diverse (median family income: $40-$60K) 67% Caucasian; 22% African-American; 11% other/mixed ethnicity 9

“Friended” participants to gain access to personal profile Or viewed participants’ profiles in the public domain Examined: Size of online friend network Quality of comments received from peers Quality of photos posted on profile 10

Number of Friends – Total number of online “friends” in youths’ online social network Number of Different Friends Posting – How many different people leave messages on youths’ wall 11

Deviant Talk Comments – Comments reflecting profanity, indirect or direct mention of alcohol or drug use, delinquency, or sex Deviant Behavior in Posted Photos – Examples include explicit alcohol use (e.g. taking shots, doing kegstands), provocative dress or gestures, or vandalism 12

Depressive Symptoms Beck Depression Inventory Self-report Intrusive Behavior Adult Behavior Checklist Close-peer report Close Friendship Competence Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents Close-peer report 13

Early studies suggested a positive relationship between Internet use and depressive symptoms 1,2 Suggested that time spent online may take time away from face-to-face social relationships 1,3 Some early evidence indicated that these effects may disappear as Internet use becomes more normative 4 14

More recent forms of online social communication may be associated with lower depressive symptoms - May be easier for youth with offline difficulties to communicate online Associations may depend on initial levels of youths’ offline psychosocial functioning 7,8,9,10 Positive interactions may help less well-adjusted youth whereas negative interactions may exacerbate problems of less well-adjusted youth 15

Regression 1. Gender Family income 2. Time 1 offline psychosocial functioning 3. Time 1 social-networking website behavior 4. Time 1 offline psychosocial functioning X Time 1 social-networking website behavior Outcomes (Time 2) Depressive symptoms Intrusive behavior Friendship competence 16

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**.12 Positive Qualities linked to Decreased Symptoms for Youth who began the study more Depressed

19.58** -.19 Deviant Photos linked to Increased Symptoms for Youth who began the study more Depressed

For youth with greater Depressive Symptoms: Positive online qualities predict decreased Depression Negative online qualities predict increased Depression 20

Online friend network size → fewer deviant comments from peers Offline literature: Positive friendships may reduce externalizing behavior Expect similar results for positive online relationships 21

Offline delinquency → later hostility online Offline delinquency → deviant behavior in posted photos online Online deviant comments/photos → increased offline alcohol use Negative online behavior may increase offline externalizing behavior Less well-adjusted youth may be more influenced 22

**.31* Positive Qualities linked to Decreased Intrusive Behavior for Youth who began the study more Intrusive

24.35* -.15 Deviant Comments linked to Increased Intrusive Behavior for Youth who began the study more Intrusive

For youth with greater Intrusiveness: Positive online qualities predict decreased Intrusiveness Negative online qualities predict increased Intrusiveness 25

Initially thought that Internet use might reduce social relationships Online communication not as satisfying as face-to-face Recent evidence: Social networking websites may stimulate friendships Online relationships may be as satisfying as offline 26

Youth who are more socially skilled offline: - More online friends - More connection online from friends - More support online from friends Will better adjusted youth who engage in positive online communication be seen as more competent friends? Will poorly adjusted youth who engage in negative online communication be seen as less competent friends? 27

28 Will better adjusted youth who engage in positive online communication be seen as more competent friends? Examine interactions: Positive Online Behavior X Depressive Symptoms Positive Online Behavior X Intrusive Behavior

29.38* -.40 More Friends linked to Increased Competence for Youth who began the study less Depressed

30.45** -.16 More People Posting linked to Increased Competence for Youth who began the study less Intrusive

31 Will poorly adjusted youth who engage in negative online communication be seen as less competent friends? Examine interactions: Negative Online Behavior X Depressive Symptoms Negative Online Behavior X Intrusive Behavior

** More Deviant Comments linked to Decreased Competence for Youth who began the study more Intrusive

Predicting Depressive Symptoms & Intrusive Behavior: Positive and negative qualities of social networking website communication appear to be more important for highly-depressed and highly-intrusive youth Positive qualities may decrease symptoms Negative qualities may increase symptoms 33

Depressive Symptoms & Friendship Competence: Less depressed → positive qualities → more competent Intrusive Behavior & Friendship Competence: Less intrusive → positive qualities → more competent More intrusive → negative qualities → less competent 34

Depressive Symptoms & Friendship Competence: Less depressed → positive qualities → more competent Intrusive Behavior & Friendship Competence: Less intrusive → positive qualities → more competent More intrusive → negative qualities → less competent 35

Depressive Symptoms & Friendship Competence: Less depressed → positive qualities → more competent Intrusive Behavior & Friendship Competence: Less intrusive → positive qualities → more competent More intrusive → negative qualities → less competent 36

Non-experimental nature of the data Examining a limited number of online behaviors and psychosocial outcomes Gender differences 37

Online social-networking behavior may have implications for youths’ offline behavior These implications may depend on both the quality of youths’ online social behavior and their initial levels of offline psychosocial functioning 38 Copies of this and related papers available at:

Online communication may provide opportunities for less well-adjusted youth to feel connected to others However, it may also provide opportunities to exacerbate pre-existing problems 39 Copies of this and related papers available at:

Joseph P. Allen, Ph.D. Amori Yee Mikami, Ph.D. Nell Manning Amanda Hare Emily Marston Erin Miga Joanna Chango Megan Schad Claire Stephenson Jen Heliste Amanda LeTard 40 Meredyth Evans Katy Higgins Maggie Poandl Jessica Van Atta Anne Dawson April Reeves Caroline White Kelly McVicar CollaboratorsSocial Networking Website Coders Copies of this and related papers available at:

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