ArticleJournal of clinical child and adolescent psychology : the official journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53
Social Media as a Behavioral Activation Tool, Conferring Possible Protection Against Suicidal Thoughts Among Adolescents.
Article in Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology : the official journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Emotional Responses to Social Media and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Among Adolescents.Suicide & life-threatening behavior · 2026Article
- Understanding sleep and smartphone use in diverse adolescents through passive digital monitoring.Journal of research on adolescence : the official journal of the Society for Research on Adolescence · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveAnhedonia is a risk factor for suicidal thoughts. Treatment for anhedonia (behavioral activation) involves engaging in rewarding activities. Social media use is a rewarding activity for adolescents, and thus, a possible behavioral activation tool for adolescents experiencing anhedonia, reducing further symptom escalation (e.g. suicidal thoughts). THE CURRENT STUDY TESTED: (1) Is momentary anhedonia negatively associated with looking forward to checking social media (predicted pleasure)? (2) Is momentary anhedonia associated with subsequently experiencing less positive mood on social media (actual pleasure)? (3) Are within-person changes in positive mood on social media (actual pleasure) associated with reduced likelihood of suicidal thoughts, and does this vary by levels of anhedonia?
methodSixty-two adolescents (M
resultsAdolescents experiencing momentary anhedonia above their average levels looked forward to checking social media less. However, more-than-usual momentary anhedonia was not associated with positive mood on social media (actual pleasure). Experiencing above-average positive mood on social media was associated with decreased probability of suicidal thoughts at the daily level. This relationship was not moderated by anhedonia.
conclusionFor adolescents experiencing more-than-usual anhedonia, using social media for positive mood-boosting activities could be a behavioral activation tool and may be an important protective factor against suicidal thoughts.
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Registered trials
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