Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40670957›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Social media use, risk behavior engagement, and mental health among middle adolescents in the Caribbean.

Deogwoon Kim, Riley Magane, Maxwell Poitier, Julia Kuang, Ava Wang, Richard Adderley, Lynette Deveaux

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Deogwoon KimDepartment of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA. deogwoon.kim13@umassmed.edu.
Riley MaganeUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
Maxwell PoitierNational HIV/AIDS Programme, Ministry of Health & Wellness, Rosetta Street, Nassau, Bahamas.
Julia KuangDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
Ava WangDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
Richard AdderleyNational HIV/AIDS Programme, Ministry of Health & Wellness, Rosetta Street, Nassau, Bahamas.
Lynette DeveauxNational HIV/AIDS Programme, Ministry of Health & Wellness, Rosetta Street, Nassau, Bahamas.

Funding

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development R01HD095765
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSocial media plays a pivotal role in adolescents’ lives. Social media encounters, including online risk behaviors, may influence real-world risk behaviors and mental health. This study explored the magnitude and patterns of social media use, risk behaviors, and mental health among boys and girls and examined associations between these factors.

methodsA survey was administered to Grade 9 students in New Providence, The Bahamas, in 2023 to assess their social media use, including platforms used, online activities, and experiences of online risk behavior, as well as their risk behavior engagement and mental health. We analyzed data from 1,563 students using generalized linear mixed models.

resultsTwo-thirds of the students spent three hours or more on social media daily. Online risk behaviors, such as cyberbullying and sexting (sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages), were also prevalent. Approximately 48% had suicidal ideation during their lifetime. Girls reported higher rates of social media usage, active and passive engagement on social media, cyberbullying experiences, and mental health issues, while boys were more likely to engage in sexting and offline risk behaviors. Factors associated with suicidal ideation included being female, experiencing sexting or cyberbullying, using X, and engaging in risk behaviors such as inappropriate touching and weapon carrying.

conclusionsFuture studies should clarify the complex interplay among the content consumed by adolescents, their online activities, and gender-specific effects on mental health. This study highlights the need for programs that can both foster a positive and supportive online environment and provide targeted assistance for victims of online harm.

Indexed as

Adolescent BehaviorMental HealthRisk-TakingSocial MediaAdolescentBahamasCyberbullyingDigital MediaFemaleHumansMaleMedia ExposureSuicidal IdeationSurveys and QuestionnairesAdolescentsCyberbullyingMental healthOnline risksRisk behaviorSocial mediaSuicidal ideation

Identifiers

PMID40670957
PMCPMC12265271

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.