Keeping you connected or keeping you addicted? Weekly use of social media platforms is associated with hazardous alcohol use and problem gambling among adults

Distinguishing High-Intensity Drinking from Heavy-Episodic Drinking Events Among Heavy-Drinking U.S. adults

INTRODUCTION

High-intensity drinking (HID) poses significant health risks, yet research on its prevalence and contextual factors, among general adult populations, remains limited. To identify intervention points among heavy drinkers, this study compared event-level factors that were associated with higher risk for HID compared to heavy episodic drinking (5+ drinks).

METHODS

We surveyed 756 adults (ages 18-65) who engaged in past-year 5+ drinking, answering questions on recent past 12-month drinking events at HED 5-7 drinks and HID 8-11 and 12+ drinks. Bivariate analyses were conducted to compare within-person differences between HED and HID events. Weighted conditional logistic regression models estimated within-person associations between event-specific (e.g., beverage type, day of the week, total hours spent drinking, drug co-use, drinking motives) characteristics and HID drinking levels (8-11 drinks and 12+ drinks separately), versus the HED drinking level (5-7 drinks).

RESULTS

Bivariate analyses revealed significant differences for several event-specific characteristics (beverage proportion, total hours, day of the week, group size, tobacco co-use, and drinking motives) between HED 5-7 and HID (8-11 and 12+ drinks). Conditional logistic regression models revealed longer drinking periods and the intention to drink a lot were associated with increased odds of a HID event (8-11 and 12+ drinks) versus a HED event. Drinking in small groups was also associated with increased odds of a HID event (8-11 drinks), while marginally significant for a HID event (12+ drinks).

CONCLUSION

Understanding distinct characteristics of HID events compared to HED events provides opportunities to identify prevention and early intervention strategies to reduce HID.

Exploring Problematic TikTok Use and Mental Health Issues: A Systematic Review of Empirical Studies

BACKGROUND

Since its launch in 2017, TikTok has rapidly emerged as a major player in the digital landscape, amassing over a billion active users. Its engaging features have raised concerns about potential problematic use and negative mental health outcomes. Despite increasing scholarly attention, a consolidated understanding of TikTok's problematic use potential and implications remains elusive This systematic review synthesizes empirical research on problematic TikTok use and its impact on mental health.

METHODS

This review followed PRISMA Statement 2020 guidelines and conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases until July 10, 2024. Keywords included terms related to TikTok use, addiction, and problematic use. Studies were included based on empirical focus and publication in peer-reviewed journals. Data extraction comprised study characteristics, measures of TikTok problematic use, and related mental health outcomes. Quality assessment used JBI, Cochrane's RoB 2, MMAT, CASP, and NOS tools. The protocol was registered in OSF: https://osf.io/cjf97.

RESULTS

This review included 26 studies, involving a total of 11 462 participants. The pooled prevalence of TikTok use was estimated at 80.19%, with the highest rates observed among people aged 18 to 29 years, where it reached 85.4%. Frequent use of TikTok was closely linked with an increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression, especially in users aged under 24 years. Female users were more likely to experience problematic TikTok use, with 67.3% of such cases found among female university students. Moreover, higher addiction scores were noted among individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those who had higher levels of neuroticism.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this review highlight the growing concern surrounding the impact of problematic TikTok use on mental health, particularly among younger and more vulnerable populations. It is imperative for stakeholders to prioritize the integration of digital literacy and media literacy into educational curricula. Moreover, the involvement of caregivers through guided mediation and the establishment of clear usage parameters could play a crucial role in managing screen time, particularly for younger users. To improve the current landscape of empirical research, longitudinal and interventional research is warranted.

The relationship between young people, social media use and alcohol use: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Social media use is now a significant part of modern daily life. Little is known about how social media impacts young peoples' drinking behaviours and drinking-related consequences. This cohort study aims to explore the prospective relationship between social media use and future drinking.

METHODS

1473 alcohol naïve young people, who at Wave 5 (aged 12-13 years) reported no lifetime alcohol use, were included (social media use, peer alcohol use, and covariates were also reported at Wave 5). At Wave 8 (aged 17-18 years), participants reported alcohol use outcomes, including age of drinking initiation, past month and past week risky consumption (>10 drinks/week), and problem drinking (alcohol-related troubles, injuries, and fights).

RESULTS

After controlling for factors known to be associated with alcohol use in young people and applying a conservative significance level (α =.01), results revealed that children who engaged in almost daily social media use at ages 12-13 later reported a younger age of drinking onset (β = -0.56, 95 % CI = -0.74, -0.39, p <.001) and greater problem drinking (β = 0.48, 95 % CI = 0.13, 0.83, p =.008) at ages 17-18, compared to those who never used social media at ages 12-13. Early social media use was not associated with odds of subsequent past-month alcohol use or risky alcohol consumption.

CONCLUSION

Young peoples' social media use was associated with future drinking behaviours, prompting the need for preventative measures to acknowledge the salient impacts of social media.