Study shows link between social media use, unhealthy lifestyles and well-being among teenagers

New research from the University of Manchester has found a link between social media use, unhealthy lifestyles and well-being among young people, highlighting that those who lead the healthiest lifestyles experience the highest levels of well-being.

The study, led by Dr Chris Knowles and a team of experts from the Manchester Institute of Education, analysed the habits of around 18,500 year 8 pupils in Greater Manchester as part of the #BeeWell programme. The findings found that teenagers who use social media frequently tend to lead less healthy lifestyles.

The study aimed to understand the relationship between different health habits (physical activity, adequate sleep, healthy diet) and mental health in young people. Based on these habits, three groups were identified: the “Green and Dream Team” (the group that was most active, got enough sleep, and had the highest intake of fruits and vegetables), the “Balanced Population” (those with intermediate scores on all these factors), and the “Wellness Weary” (those with the most unhealthy habits).

About 45 percent of the teens were in the healthiest group, 40 percent were in the moderately healthy group, and 15 percent were in the least healthy group. The study found that teens who were part of the “Green and Dream Team” reported being more mentally healthy than the other groups a year later.

Social media use was one of several key factors influencing which group adolescents fell into. Compared to the “Green & Dream Team,” teenagers who spent more time on social media were more likely to be in the less healthy groups (i.e., the “Balanced” and “Wellness-Tired” groups). In contrast, those who used social media less were more active, slept better, and ate more fruits and vegetables.

The research also found that socio-economic deprivation plays a major role in determining young people’s health habits, with teenagers from deprived areas of Greater Manchester significantly less likely to be members of the ‘Green Dream Team’. Indeed, of all indicators, deprivation was the strongest predictor of healthy lifestyles, highlighting the continued importance of tackling social inequalities to reduce public health disparities.

Interestingly, while the study found that black and Asian teenagers were more likely to have unhealthy habits (such as poor physical activity and sleep), previous research has found that black and Asian young people are more likely to report better mental health outcomes than their white peers. This presents a complex picture of how different social and lifestyle factors affect the health and mental health of different ethnic groups.

The study supports ongoing work by the NHS and government to improve young people’s physical and mental health, and calls for further action to address the impact of social media and social inequalities on everyday life.

“Our findings have important implications for young people’s health and wellbeing,” said Dr Chris Knowles. “We know there is a strong link with unhealthy behaviours, such as inequality, but longer-term societal issues need to be addressed. Until then, reducing social media use is a more immediately implementable change that may help people adopt healthier lifestyles in the short term. We also recognise that young people have previously reported that social media is beneficial for their wellbeing, so any future changes should aim to strike a balance.”

“It is vital that we as a country consistently and rigorously measure young people’s wellbeing, as doing so gives us important clues about what young people are experiencing and the issues that affect them. Armed with these insights, schools, governments, health systems and civil society can act on the results to bring about real change and improvements in young people’s wellbeing,” said Professor Neil Humphrey, #BeeWell lead at the University of Manchester.