(PS4-97) The Relationship Between Reward Processing, Depression Symptoms, and Social Media Use in Adolescents

Despite the widespread use of mobile devices and social media platforms among adolescents, research on the relationship between smartphone and social media (SSM) use and neuro-affective processes remains limited. Although emerging studies suggest that SSM use may be linked to increased reward sensitivity underlying psychopathology, more research is needed to understand the nature of these connections. The objective of the current study is to comprehensively examine the mechanisms that may underlie these relationships by utilizing a diverse battery of reward processing and SSM measurements, including neuroimaging, behavioral, and self-report data. A total of 127 participants aged 13-16 years old (M=15.10, SD=0.94), oversampled for adolescents at risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) based on exhibiting low self-reported trait reward sensitivity, were drawn from a larger longitudinal study called Reward and Immune Systems in Emotion (RISE). The participants have no prior history of MDD. Participants completed the Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task during an fMRI scan as well as self-report and behavioral task measures of reward functions, including the BIS/BAS, CARROT, and Delay Discounting. Multiple indices of SSM included self-reported problematic use, objective screen time data, and social media engagement. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Planned analyses will investigate correlations among each included reward and SSM index, as well as the Beck Depression Inventory. Findings will clarify the specific reward processes linked to SSM use and identify the types of SSM engagement correlating with reward processing, and depression symptoms, contributing to a more precise understanding of these relationships. Additionally, reward variables will be aggregated into a composite score of reward processing, facilitating an examination of the relationship between total reward processing, SSM use, and depression symptoms. Finally, we will assess whether depression moderates the relationship between SSM and reward processing, given the documented negative correlation between reward seeking and depression symptoms. Analyses will be completed prior to the ABCT conference, allowing for timely dissemination of our findings and presentation at the conference. Findings will demonstrate the cognitive and behavioral mechanisms underpinning the link between reward processing and SSM engagement, their connection to mood symptomology, and establish groundwork for exploring mobile technology’s relationship with cognitive and affective functioning.