What does “passive browsing” have to do with it? For social media with mental health?

A new study has revealed that browsing social media without liking or commenting on posts may be linked to having a worrying mental health condition.

Researchers from China Central Normal University found that those who use social platforms “passively” They are more likely to suffer from social anxiety than those who actively use it, such as uploading posts and sharing life events.

The team conducted a survey of more than 500 college students about their mental health and social media use, and found that “snoopers” They were more afraid of unfamiliar situations in their real lives.

On the other hand, the team found that those who actively used social media had more social support and improved friendship quality.

The study, published in the journal BMC Psychology, included 571 students from Shanxi Province and Hubei Province in China from May to July 2022.

The group completed questionnaires measuring openness, active and passive use of social media, self-evaluation, and social anxiety.

To measure openness, participants were asked to rank a series of statements: one indicating strongly disagree and four indicating strongly agree.

Some of these phrases included: “I see myself as an innovative person.” “I see myself as a person with an active imagination.”

The next measure, active and passive social media use, was a nine-item questionnaire asking about the amount of participants' activities, such as likes and comments.

The study noted that “active use refers to information-generating behaviors that enhance communication, such as posting status updates or comments.”

“Passive use refers to information browsing behaviors that lack communication, such as viewing other people’s home pages or photos,” the team explained in a research paper.

The self-evaluation portion asked participants to agree or disagree with statements such as: “I think I am an intelligent person.”

The final questionnaire focused on social anxiety with a sample of items including "Large groups make me nervous" “It takes time to overcome my shyness in new situations.”

Participants were then asked to rank the items from "not like me at all" to "He looks a lot like me".

The study revealed that those who reported negative social media use were more likely to produce dysfunctional beliefs.

"People tend to portray themselves in overly flattering ways on social media platforms, which may lead passive users to unconsciously fall into the dilemma of upward social comparisons when they see their friends' updates," the team wrote. Previous studies have also found that individuals who use social networking services passively have higher jealousy and lower self-esteem. In particular, negative use of social media services and websites can lead to ruminative thinking (repetitive thoughts generated through attempts to confront self-discrepancy) related to interpersonal relationships, which easily exacerbates symptoms of social anxiety.”

The team found that when users actively use the platforms, they feel comfortable portraying themselves to others and receiving feedback.

The study added: “In addition, individuals have become more confident in their ability to maintain a large number of weak ties. As a result, individuals can accumulate social capital more effectively, satisfy attachment needs, and develop a positive self-perception.”

However, passive users lack self-disclosure and interactive communication, which hinders the creation and development of high-quality relationships with others.

A factor around us may save us from the risk of stroke or dementia

A study revealed that living in a leafy neighborhood significantly reduces the risk of stroke.

The results also found that those who had gardens or access to green spaces were 13% less likely to develop dementia.

The study, which was conducted on 420,000 Britons with an average age of 55 years, says that decreased air pollution is the main reason behind these results.

The researchers examined 12 years of health data on strokes, dementia and deaths and compared it to people's proximity to green spaces within 300 meters of homes.

During this period, 8,568 people were diagnosed with stroke and 5,648 people were diagnosed with dementia. Some developed dementia after a stroke.

According to the results, those who have more green space have a lower risk of dementia or strokes. According to the results, they were 8% less likely to suffer a stroke and 14% less likely to die. There was also a 26% reduction in the risk of strokes developing into dementia.

Research cited by the Stroke Association shows that trees and other plants absorb and filter air pollution, which is the causal factor in 21% of deaths from strokes, according to research cited by the Stroke Association.

Green spaces may also reduce depression and promote outdoor activities, which reduces the risk of stroke.

The results of the study conducted by Peking University School of Public Health were published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.