Hopelab & Well Being Trust 15
Figure 6. Importance of social media, by PHQ-8
depressive symptoms
Percent of 14- to 22-year-old social media users who
say social media is "very" important to them for:
For young people with moderate to severe depressive symptoms,
social media may be more important than for youth without
depressive symptoms when it comes to feeling less alone, finding
inspiration, and providing a venue for creative self-expression.
Key Finding 6
Source: Hopelab/Well Being Trust Teens and Young Adults Survey,
February-March 2018. N=1,242 social media users ages 14-22.
Note: All differences depicted in this chart are statistically significant
at p<.05.
13%
13%
7%
26%
27%
30%
Expressing themselves creatively
Getting inspiration from others
Feeling less alone
Among those with no
depressive symptoms
Among those with
moderate to severe
depressive symptoms
• Social media users with moderate to severe depressive symp-
toms, as indicated by PHQ-8 scores, are more likely than those
with no symptoms to say that social media is "very" important
to them for:
Feeling less alone (30% for those with moderate
to severe depressive symptoms, compared to 7%
for those with no symptoms);
Getting inspiration from others (27%, compared
to 13%); and
Expressing themselves creatively (26%, compared
to 13%).
• In addition, young people with moderate to severe depressive
symptoms who use social media are more likely to say they
prefer communicating with people through social media than
in person (42% agree with that statement, compared to 25%
of those with no symptoms), including 17% who "strongly agree"
(compared to 4% of those with no symptoms).
Key Findings
