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Primary Submission Category: Social/relational factors
Associations of Problematic Internet and Social Media Use on Unhealthy Weight Control Behaviors in Washington State Adolescents
Authors: Eileen Rillamas-Sun, Megan Suter, Chelsea Olson, Megan Moreno, Maayan Simckes,
Presenting Author: Eileen Rillamas-Sun*
Background: Youth are exposed to internet and social media content that promote idealized body standards, which may influence weight control motivation. We examined whether risk of problematic internet use (PIU) and frequency of screen time and social media use were associated with unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs) in Washington State adolescents.
Methods: Data were from the 2023 Washington Healthy Youth Survey, a school-based survey for adolescents. Students in grade 8, 10, and 12 reported their participation in 1 exercise-related and 5 eating-related behaviors to lose or maintain their weight in the past year. Risk of PIU was from the 3-item Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening Scale (PRIUSS-3); frequency of screen time (hours/school day) and social media use (times per week, day, or hour) was self-reported. Weighted prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of PIU, screen time, and social media use on UWCBs were examined using modified Poisson regression, adjusting for sex, grade, and race/ethnicity.
Results: A total 8,288 youth (50% female, 46% non-Hispanic White) had weight control behavior data. Of these, 3,484 had PRIUSS-3 data and 3,946 had screen time and social media data. Youth at risk for PIU were 1.2 (95% CI: 1.1-1.2) times likely to report any UWCBs than those not at risk. Youth who used screens ≥3 hours/school day compared to no screen use were 1.2 (95% CI: 1.0-1.5) times likely to report any UWCBs. Prevalence of any weight control behavior increased as frequency of social media use increased. Compared to non-users, prevalence was 1.1 (95% CI: 1.0-1.2) and1.3 (95% CI: 1.2-1.4) higher for youth using social media ≥1 time/day and ≥1 time/hour, respectively.
Conclusions: UWCBs in youth may be exacerbated by problematic internet and social media use. Health and policy interventions aimed at addressing adolescent internet use and reducing exposure to harmful social media messaging may help lower the burden of UWCBs in adolescents.