(PS7-24) Does Social Media Contribute to Eating Disorders? Testing Longitudinal Associations Between Social Networking and Eating Disorder Outcomes Among Adolescents

Preliminary research suggests an association between time spent on social networking sites (SNSs) and the development of eating disorder psychopathology, however this relationship is less understood among emerging adolescents and across a spectrum of eating disorder diagnoses. Additionally, research suggests that holding certain identities or traits, such as identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning (LGBQ), or being female, may incur increased risk for eating pathology on SNSs. The aim of this study is then to determine if time spent on SNSs is predictive of the development of full threshold and other specified eating disorder diagnoses among emerging adolescents.

We analyzed prospective cohort data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (N = 10,186). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate associations between time spent on SNSs at one-year follow-up and parent-reported eating disorder diagnoses based on the computerized Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (KSADS-5) at two-year follow-up, adjusting for age and sex.

Results found that time spent on SNSs predicted full threshold and other specified eating disorder diagnosis one year later (AOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.10-1.69, p = 0.002). There was an effect modification by sexual orientation, such that for adolescents who identified as heterosexual, each additional hour of social networking was associated with higher odds of an eating disorder at year two follow up (AOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.06 – 1.70, p = 0.009). Finally, results indicated that there was an effect modification for adolescent females wherein each additional hour of social networking was associated with higher odds of an eating disorder at year two follow up (AOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.19 – 1.95, p < .001).

Findings extend previous research to suggest that time spent on SNSs incurs increased risk for full threshold and other specified eating disorders across a spectrum of binge eating and purging behaviors. Proposed mechanisms for these findings may include increased body dissatisfaction or reduced hunger cues. Heterosexual and female adolescents may be subjected to more pronounced bodily ideals on SNSs compared to their non-heterosexual peers, resulting in increased body surveillance, dissatisfaction, and eating disorder behaviors. Parents, clinicians, and caregivers may want to carefully consider implications of time spent on SNSs when discussing internet and device usage with adolescents.