title: A pilot evaluation of associations between displayed depression references on Facebook and self-reported depression using a clinical scale.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine associations between displayed depression symptoms on Facebook and self-reported depression symptoms using a clinical screen. Public Facebook profiles of undergraduates from two universities were examined for displayed depression references. Profiles were categorized as depression symptom displayers or non-displayers. Participants completed an online PHQ-9 depression scale. Analyses examined associations between PHQ-9 score and depression symptom displayers versus non-displayers. The mean PHQ-9 score for non-displayers was 4.7 (SD = 4.0), the mean PHQ-9 score for depression symptom displayers was 6.4 (SD = 5.1; p = 0.018). A trend approaching significance was noted that participants who scored into a depression category by their PHQ-9 score were more likely to display depression symptom references. Displayed references to depression symptoms were associated with self-reported depression symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Section of Adolescent Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2,870 University Ave, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53705, USA. mamoreno@pediatrics.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Megan Andreas
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Dimitri A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Christakis
authors.forename: Katie G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jelenchick
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Hope
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Villiard
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012650:Self Disclosure; D057566:Self Report; D061108:Social Media; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D014861:Washington; D014922:Wisconsin; D055815:Young Adult