The associations of social networking site use and self-reported general health, mental health, and well-being among Canadians

Objectives To investigate social networking site (SNS) use and frequency, and their potential associations with self-reported general health, mental health, and well-being among the Canadian population using the nationally representative 2013 General Social Survey (GSS). Methods Data were collected via Statistics Canada GSS 2013 (cycle 27). Six separate one-way analysis of covariances (ANCOVAs) were conducted to determine differences in general health, mental health, and well-being for both SNS use and frequency, controlling for age, gender, number of children at home, household location, education, and income. Results SNS users were younger (with nearly 96% being 15–24 years old vs. 27% ≥ 75 years; p < .001), female (p < .001), have three or fewer children at home (p < .001), live in urban/Prince Edward Island locations, were at the lower or higher ends of household income (p < .001), and were less educated (p < .001). Among all Internet users, better general health (p = .03) was associated with using SNSs, yet better mental health (p = .001) and well-being (p = .001) were associated with not using SNSs. Among SNS account-holders, those who never accessed their accounts had significantly lower general health (p = .007), mental health (p < .001), and well-being (p < .001) compared with those who accessed their accounts, regardless of frequency. Conclusion Differences exist for SNS use and frequency and health outcomes. However, investigations into the possible differences that may exist between individuals who do not have a SNS account and those who do, but do not use it, are needed in the future.