Social Media Use and Social Connectedness Among Black/African American and AAPI Young Adults with Histories of Suicidal Ideation

Background and Purpose: Social media use has been portrayed as both connective and harmful, depending on online experiences and frequency of use. Young adults under the age of 30 are more likely to use social media platforms than their older counterparts, suggesting that the interplay between social connection and social media is particularly pertinent to the current generation entering adulthood. At the same time, rates of suicidal ideation have increased among 18 to 25-year-olds between 2015 and 2019. The relationship between social media use and social connectedness among Black and Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) young people with histories of suicidal ideation remains understudied, despite research indicating Black and AAPI young people are less likely to access mental health treatment.

The current study addressed two aims, beginning with analyzing the rate of lifetime suicidal ideation among youth between the ages of 18 and 25, along with differences in sociodemographic information, social media use, and social connectedness in the sample. Next, the current study tested whether social media use is associated with social connectedness among young people with a history of suicide ideation.

Methods: The present study is a secondary data analysis of the Personalized Normative Feedback (PNF) project, a mixed methods study examining mental health help-seeking process among Black and AAPI young adults. The study design was cross-sectional, with survey data collected from July 2024 to September 2024. Social connectedness was measured using the Lubben Social Network Scale–6 (LSNS-6) and social media was operationalized as a composite variable, with higher scores reflecting frequent use. History of suicidal ideation was assessed by asking participants, “have you ever seriously thought about committing suicide?” and was dichotomized (0=no /1=yes). Bivariate analysis and linear regression were utilized to test the research questions. Covariates included age, race, sex, sexual orientation, religiosity/spirituality, depression score, and receiving mental health services.

Results: Among 1,519 individuals, 21.97% of young adults reported experiencing suicidal ideation in their lifetimes. The sample had moderate levels of social media use (x̄= 12.53, SD= 5.25) and had an average social connectedness score above the cut-off for social isolation (x̄ = 13.07, SD = 6.50). Bivariate analyses indicated significant differences in age, sex, sexual orientation, religiosity/spirituality, depression, and receipt of mental health treatment. Linear regression analysis indicated that social media use was positively associated with social connectedness among young people with histories of suicidal ideation (β = .159, p<.01), when controlling for sociodemographic and mental health factors.

Conclusions and Implications: This study showed that approximately one-fifth of young people in the sample reported having experienced suicide ideation at some point. Importantly, increases in social media use was associated with higher social connectedness among young people with a history of suicidal ideation. Given that social connectedness is a protective factor against suicidality, social media may function as an extension of young adults’ offline social networks and represent a relevant context for suicide prevention efforts. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of considering both digital and offline social contexts in understanding suicidality among young adults.