File – This January 13, 2016 photo shows File Photo, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest icons in a New York window. A new study finds that taking a break from social media can be beneficial for your mental health. (AP Photo/Mark Lenihan, File)
TORONTO (KXAN) — Logging off social media can have major health benefits.
A new study by researchers at York University in Toronto found that young women who took a week off from social media reported higher body satisfaction and self-esteem.
The researchers noted that while the negative effects of social media are well-documented, the positive effects of quitting social media have been less studied.
Before taking a break, the researchers asked a group of 85 people (all women between the ages of 17 and 24) who use social media daily to fill out a questionnaire rating their body image and self-esteem. .
From there, the group split, with one person continuing to use social media as usual and the other logging off for the next seven days.
Jennifer Mills, professor of psychology at York University, said: “We found that women in the week-long break had significantly better or more positive self-esteem and body image than those who continued regular use.” ” he said.
To ensure the integrity of the study, researchers had study participants download app tracking software to monitor their social media use.
After screening participants who did not follow instructions or report in a timely manner, the group was narrowed down to 66 participants.
As for why body image and self-esteem have improved, Mills believes there are two answers.
“This has given people an opportunity to escape one of the things we know to be particularly harmful on social media: social comparison,” she said. “Another thing is that they were able to replace social media with other types of healthy activities.In many cases, participants discussed replacing social media with other types of healthy activities. I did.”
Mills said healthier alternatives include sleeping, seeing friends and family in person, exercising and getting outdoors.
In terms of what the public should take away from this research, Mills recommends that people reflect on how they feel when using social media and plan their actions accordingly. .
“I think it makes sense to set limits on how much time you spend on social media,” she says. “If you look at the research, we see that the less time you spend doing it, the better it is for your mental health.”
