Coping with COVID-19: How Young People Use Digital Media to Manage Their Mental Health
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This survey documents the results of a nationally representative survey of more than 1,500 teens and young adults (age 14 to 22) in the United States. It was conducted during the coronavirus pandemic and presidential election season, from September to November 2020. Many of the findings update the results of a survey conducted two years earlier on behalf of Hopelab and Well Being Trust, allowing us to directly compare the results between the two cross-sectional samples and explore the evolution of the role of technology in young people’s well-being during this extraordinary period.
The purpose of the report is to amplify young people’s voices and experiences. We use a unique methodology that includes extensive use of open-ended questions, allowing teens and young adults to share their experiences in their own words. The survey also includes a series of items that allow us to identify and take an even closer look at several distinct populations, including those who are currently experiencing symptoms of depression, as indicated on the PHQ-8 depression scale; those who have been directly affected by COVID-19; and LGBTQ+ youth, who experience extraordinarily high rates of depression and who are especially active in using digital health resources.
The survey offers a new perspective on the debate about the role of social media in depression among youth. By elevating the voices of youth themselves, the findings help provide texture and nuance to our understanding of how and why teens and young adults use social media, including:
How social media affects them when they are feeling depressed, stressed, or anxious.
How they use social media to facilitate and support their own well-being.
How they use other digital tools for health purposes, including using mobile apps, researching health topics online, connecting to providers, and seeking out peer health advice online.