Beyond Likes and Follows: Investigating the Longitudinal Associations between Social Media Rumination and Internalizing Symptoms in Middle School Students

BackgroundIn light of the widespread use of social media among adolescents, understanding its impact on youth's social and emotional well-being is crucial.ObjectiveThis longitudinal study investigated the associations between social media rumination (SMR) and symptoms of anxiety and depression in middle school students, while also exploring potential gender differences. Additionally, the study aimed to validate the psychometric properties of the Social Media Rumination Scale (SMRS).MethodThe study included 126 fifth to seventh-grade students (57.1% boys, 42.9% girls, 79.4% White) from a Midwestern state who completed measures of depression (CDI 2: SR), anxiety (SCARED), and social media rumination (SMRS) at two time points (October 2021 and March 2022). An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed on the SMRS, and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis was then conducted to validate the EFA results. Multiple regression analyses examined associations between initial social media rumination and subsequent anxiety and depression symptoms, considering gender differences.ResultsThe SMRS revealed a bi-factor structure, comprising SMR related to one's own social media content (SMR-Self) and that related to others' content (SMR-Other). Both types of SMR at time one were positively associated with subsequent anxiety, with no significant gender interactions. Furthermore, SMR-Other, but not SMR-Self, at time one was positively associated with later depression, with no gender interactions observed again.ConclusionsThese findings shed light on distinct forms of social media rumination in young adolescents and their varying associations with anxiety and depression over time.