A Systematic Review of Recent Research on Adolescent Social Connectedness and Mental Health with Internet Technology Use

Adolescent Res Rev (2016) 1:153–162 DOI 10.1007/s40894-015-0013-9 NARRATIVE REVIEW A Systematic Review of Recent Research on Adolescent Social Connectedness and Mental Health with Internet Technology Use Yi-Ju Wu1 • Corliss Outley1 • David Matarrita-Cascante1 • Theresa Pesl Murphrey2 Received: 12 June 2015 / Accepted: 24 July 2015 / Published online: 2 August 2015 Ó Springer International Publishing 2015 Abstract An increase in the use of online technology among adolescents has influenced their sense of connectedness in various ways. Some studies suggest that there are positive aspects of online technology, especially in providing opportunities for youth to develop and maintain a sense of connectedness in an online environment, while other studies suggest that young people’s use of online technology creates the opposite and leads to feelings of loneliness, depression and social anxiety, and creates mental health challenges among adolescents. Although a substantial number of studies suggests that young people stay in the digital landscape for social activities, there have been few studies that have addressed its effects on feelings of connectedness and mental health. This study reports the findings of a systematic review of recent research addressing the associations between adolescents’ sense of social connectedness and Internet technology use. Adolescents are becoming accustomed to technology and remaining in the virtual playground in part to experience the positive reinforcement of social connections. Although Internet technology might provide additional opportunities for adolescents to seek emotional connection with friends and school, this study suggests that real-life social skills are still a necessary foundation for them to use technology in a beneficial way. Taken collectively, the articles reviewed suggest that adults who interact with youth should incorporate Internet technology & Yi-Ju Wu 1 Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M University, R 121 AGLS, College Station, TX 77843-2261, USA 2 Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA into their work, and consider the development of a digital landscape to promote adolescents’ social connectedness. Keywords Social connectedness
Adolescent
Internet technology use
Mental health Introduction Social connectedness plays an essential role in the everyday lives of adolescents and is a key to positive personal development, lifestyle, and general health (Barber and Schluterman 2008; Stoddard et al. 2011; Uchino et al. 1996). Researchers have found that a higher level of social connectedness among adolescents not only contributes as a protective factor against an array of risk behaviors but also fosters more positive mental health outcomes by decreasing feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness (Beam et al. 2002; DuBois and Silverthorn 2005; Hawkins et al. 1999; Zimmerman et al. 2002). Further, the degree of connectedness to the different social domains (i.e., family, school, friends and community) in adolescence is not only a factor for their positive development, lifestyle, and general health behaviors, but also a predictor of their sense of well-being in adulthood (Olsson et al. 2013). Walton and Cohen (2011) argue that an adolescent’s sense of social connectedness is generated by a process that seeks to create a social linkage to their social world—a world that includes self-identity formation, feelings of belonging, personal interests and motivated behaviors. Adolescents actively seek this sense of connectedness; if support is received to achieve this connectedness, the connectedness itself can positively contribute to their mental health and likely positively affect their future behaviors. An increase in the use of Internet technology among adolescents has influenced their behaviors to seek a sense 123 154 of connectedness in various ways. The ecological environment for the digital generation has shifted from a focus on only physical surroundings to a digital landscape where adolescents spend their time within virtual playgrounds on a regular basis. The Pew Research Center (2013) reported that 93 % of young people use the Internet at least occasionally. A national survey reported that 95 % of all teenagers ages 12–17 years are online in the United States (Madden et al. 2013). This suggests that adolescents are becoming increasingly well-versed in technology and the digital landscape, where virtual playgrounds are part of the social environment and a common destination for adolescents. Bers (2012) proposed that one of the features of technology is the creation of a digital landscape playground where adolescents are able to construct a sense of connection. Thus, Internet technology can be viewed as a potentially effortless, integrated, and automated way to provide a space in a digital landscape for adolescents to construct their social connectedness. Although a substantial number of studies suggest that young people engage in the digital landscape for social activities, there have been few studies that have addressed, in a systematic way, the effects of adolescents’ Internet technology use on their sense of connectedness. Some research suggests that there are positive aspects of Internet technology, especially in providing opportunities for individuals to develop and maintain a sense of connectedness in an online environment (Grieve et al. 2013). Boyd (2008) argues that Internet technology provides adolescents a space to explore identity formation, negotiate status, and socially engage with their peers. On the other hand, other researchers argue that young people’s use of Internet technology leads to the opposite of feelings of connection, resulting in depression, anxiety, and loneliness that can create mental health challenges among adolescents (Irvine 2009; Pierce 2009). The literature is not clear regarding the implications of using technology among adolescents. Therefore, we set to examine the relationship that exists between these factors (i.e., use of Internet technology and connectedness and use of Internet technology and mental health) by answering the overall research questions: What is the relationship between adolescents’ Internet technology use and their sense of connectedness? and What is the relationship between adolescents’ online Internet technology and their levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness? We do this by engaging in a systematic review of the existing body of literature as described below. Internet Technology People use Internet technology for various purposes including seeking information, entertainment, commerce, 123 Adolescent Res Rev (2016) 1:153–162 communication, and creating new relationships (Sum et al. 2008). The notion of ‘‘Internet technology’’ was originally derived from the concept of information technology. Information technology refers to the d (...truncated)