Screen time, social media use, and weight-related bullying victimization: Findings from an international sample of adolescents

Abstract

Screen time, social media, and weight-related bullying are ubiquitous among adolescents. However, little research has been conducted among international samples. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the association between screen time, social media use, and weight-related bullying victimization among an international sample of adolescents from six countries. Data from the 2020 International Food Policy Study Youth Survey were analyzed (N = 12,031). Multiple modified Poisson regression models were estimated to determine the associations between weekday hours of five forms of screen time, and total screen time, and use of six contemporary social media platforms and weight-related bullying victimization. Analyses were conducted among the overall sample, and stratified by country (Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, United Kingdom, United States). Greater hours of weekday screen time and use of each of the six social media platforms were associated with weight-related bullying victimization among the sample. Each additional hour of social media use was equivalent to a 13% (confidence interval [CI] 1.10–1.16) increase in the prevalence of weight-related bullying victimization. The use of Twitter was associated with a 69% (CI 1.53–1.84) increase in the prevalence of weight-related bullying victimization. Associations between hours of weekday screen time, use of six social media, and weight-related bullying victimization differed by country. Findings underscore the associations between screen time, social media, and weight-related bullying among a sample of adolescents from six medium- and high-income countries. Country-specific and global public health and technology efforts are needed to address this burgeoning social problem.