DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY IN ADOLESCENTS ACCORDING TO TIME AND TYPE OF USE OF THE SOCIAL NETWORK INSTAGRAM

Abstract

Teenagers are the age group that uses social media the most, with Instagram being one of the most popular among young people between 18 and 24 years old. Although the benefits are undeniable, it has also been associated with some mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. This article presents the results obtained in a research whose objective was to evaluate the presence of depressive symptoms according to the use of Instagram, in terms of time and type of use, in adolescents. A non-experimental quantitative study was carried out, with a correlational and cross-sectional scope. The sample consisted of 94 subjects between 18 and 20 years old, residing in Argentina, specifically in Greater Buenos Aires, of which 34% (n=32) were male and 66% (n=62) were female. Among the results it was observed that: adolescents spend an average of 70.47 minutes a day using the social network Instagram; they tend to use it more actively; Gender and age are not associated with the type of use; depressive symptoms are not associated with gender or the length of time spent using this social network; however, it can be concluded that the type of active use of Instagram is associated with the presence of depressive symptoms in the population studied.