Evaluating Displayed Depression Symptoms on Social Media Sites

Megan  A. Moreno; Erin  Kelleher; Megan  Pumper

doi:10.4236/sn.2013.24018

Megan A. Moreno, Erin Kelleher, Megan Pumper

Abstract: Social networking sites (SNSs) are immensely popular and allow for display of personal information, including references to depression. Evaluating displayed content on a SNS for research purposes requires a systematic approach and a precise data collection instrument. The purpose of this paper is to describe one approach to the development of a research codebook for depression so that others may develop and test their own codebooks for use in SNS research. The depression SNS research codebook was grounded in ethics, theory and clinical criteria.The key elements in the codebook developmental process included an iterative team approach to develop variables of interest and data collection sheet layout. Training protocols involve coding practice and reliability assessments. Interrater reliability remains a critical assessment tool. Codebook successes include consistently high interrater reliability. Challenges include time investment in coder training, SNS server changes, and social or cultural norms regarding public displays of mental health. We provide detailed information about a systematic approach to codebook development so that other researchers may use this structure to develop and test their own codebooks for use in SNS research. Future directions for the codebook include expanding areas of interest such as anxiety or other depression evaluation criteria, and expansion to other SNSs such as Twitter.

Keywords: Component; Formatting; Style; Styling; Insert

Cite this paper: A. Moreno, M. , Kelleher, E. and Pumper, M. (2013) Evaluating Displayed Depression Symptoms on Social Media Sites. Social Networking, 2, 185-192. doi: 10.4236/sn.2013.24018.

References

[1] C. Ross, et al., “Personality and Motivations Associated with Facebook Use,” Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 25, No. 2, 2009, pp. 578-586. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2008.12.024

[2] M. U. Bhuiyan, S. Zaman and T. Ahmed, “Risk Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity among Urban School Children and Adolescents in Bangladesh: A Case- Control Study,” BMC Pediatrics, Vol. 13, No. 1, 2013, p. 72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-13-72

[3] K. Lewis, J. Kaufman and N. Christakis, “The Taste for Privacy: An Analysis of College Student Privacy Settings in an Online Social Network,” Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Vol. 14, No. 1, 2008, pp. 79-100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2008.01432.x

[4] A. P. Association, “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” 4th Edition, American Psychiatric Association, Washington DC, 2000.

[5] M. A. Moreno, et al., “Feeling Bad on Facebook: Depression Disclosures by College Students on a Social Networking Site,” Depress Anxiety, Vol. 28, No. 6, 2011, pp. 447-455. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/da.20805

[6] M. A. Moreno, et al., “A Pilot Evaluation of Associations Between Displayed Depression References on Facebook and Self-Reported Depression Using a Clinical Scale,” The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, Vol. 39, No. 3, 2012, pp. 295-304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11414-011-9258-7

[7] J. B. Walther and M. R. Parks, “Cues Filtered Out, Cues Filtered in: Computer Mediated Communication and Relationships,” In: G. R. Miller, Ed., The Handbook of Interpersonal Communication, Thousand Oaks, Sage, 2002, pp. 529-563.

[8] E. Christofides, A. Muise and S. Desmarais, “Information Disclosure and Control on Facebook: Are They Two Sides of the Same Coin or Two Different Processes? CyberPsychology & Behavior, 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2008.0226

[9] Alexa: Top Sites, 2013. http://www.alexa.com/topsites

[10] D. Eisenberg, E. Golberstein and S. E. Gollust, “Help-Seeking and Access to Mental Health Care in a University Student Population,” Med Care, Vol. 45, No. 7, 2007, pp. 594-601. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0b013e31803bb4c1

[11] J. Hunt and D. Eisenberg, “Mental Health Problems and Help-Seeking Behavior among College Students,” Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol. 46, No. 1, 2010, pp. 3-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.08.008

[12] J. Yang, et al., “The Impact of Stress on Depressive Symptoms Is Moderated by Social Support in Chinese Adolescents with Subthreshold Depression: A Multi-Wave Longitudinal Study,” Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol. 127, No. 1-3, 2010, pp. 113-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2010.04.023

[13] P. Rohde, et al., “Impact of Comorbidity on a Cognitive-Behavioral Group Treatment for Adolescent Depression,” Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Vol. 40, No. 7, 2001, pp. 795-802. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200107000-00014

[14] R. C. Kessler, et al., “Social Consequences of Psychiatric Disorders I: Educational Attainment,” The American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 152, No. 7, 1995, pp. 1026-1032.

[15] D. Deas and E. S. Brown, “Adolescent Substance Abuse and Psychiatric Comorbidities,” Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Vol. 67, No. 7, 2006, p. e02. http://dx.doi.org/10.4088/JCP.0706e02

[16] U. Rao, “Links between Depression and Substance Abuse in Adolescents: Neurobiological Mechanisms, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Vol. 31, Supplement 1, 2006, pp. S161-S174. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2006.07.002

[17] S. J. Garlow, et al., “Depression, Desperation, and Suicidal Ideation in College Students: Results from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention College Screening Project at Emory University,” Depression and Anxiety, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2008, pp. 482-488. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/da.20321

[18] K. Zivin, et al., “Persistence of Mental Health Problems and Needs in a College Student Population,” Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol. 117, No. 3, 2009, pp. 180-185. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2009.01.001

[19] R. Olivardia, H. G. Pope and J. I. Hudson, “Muscle Dysmorphia in Male Weightlifters: A Case-Control Study,” American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 157, No. 8, 2000, pp. 1291-1296. http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.157.8.1291

[20] P. Rohde, et al., “Natural Course of Alcohol Use Disorders from Adolescence to Young Adulthood,” Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2001, pp. 83-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200101000-00020

[21] D. Eisenberg, et al., “Stigma and Help Seeking for Mental Health among College Students,” Medical Care Re- search and Review, Vol. 66, No. 5, 2009, pp. 522-541. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1077558709335173

[22] B. Donald, “Facebook Aims to Help Prevent Suicide,” USA Today, 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(00)00141-5

[23] J. D. Brown, “Adolescents’ Sexual Media Diets,” Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol. 27, Supplement 2, 2000, pp. 35-40.

[24] E. Christofides, A. Muise and S. Desmarais, “Information Disclosure and Control on Facebook: Are They Two Sides of the Same Coin or Two Different Processes?” Cyberpsychology & Behavior, Vol. 12, No. 3, 2009, pp. 341-345. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2008.0226

[25] C. Glesne, “Becoming Qualitative Researchers,” 2nd Edition, Longman, Reading, 1999.

[26] E. L. Pelling and K.M. White, “The Theory of Planned Behavior Applied to Young People’s Use of Social Networking Web Sites,” Cyberpsychology & Behavior, Vol. 12, No. 6, 2009, pp. 755-759. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2009.0109

[27] M. A. Moreno, et al., “Display of Health Risk Behaviors on MySpace by Adolescents: Prevalence and Associations,” Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Vol. 163, No. 1, 2009, pp. 35-41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2008.502

[28] S. Hinduja and J. W. Patchin, “Personal Information of Adolescents on the Internet: A Quantitative Content Analysis of MySpace,” Journal of Adolescence, Vol. 31, No. 1, 2008, pp. 125-146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2007.05.004

[29] Alexa: Tumblr, 2013. http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/tumblr.com

[30] Statistica, “Cumulative total of Tumblr Opsts between May 2011 and April 2013 (in billions),” 2013. http://www.statista.com/statistics/221565/total-cumulative-number-of-tumblr-posts/

[31] I. Ajzen, “From Intentions to Actions: A Theory of Planned Behavior,” In: J. Kuhl and J. Beckman, Eds., Action- Control: From Cognition to Behavior, Springer, Heidelberg, 1985.

[32] Alexa: Pinterest, 2013. http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/pinterest.com

[33] % V. Fisoun, et al., “Internet Addiction as an Important Predictor in Early Detection of Adolescent Drug Use Experience-Implications for Research and Practice,” Journal of Addiction Medicine, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2012, pp. 77-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0b013e318233d637

[34] A. Haas, et al., “An Interactive Web-Based Method of Outreach to College Students at Risk for Suicide,” Journal of American College Health, Vol. 57, No. 1, 2008, pp. 15-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.3200/JACH.57.1.15-22

[35] M. A. Moreno, N. C. Fost and D. A. Christakis, “Re- search Ethics in the MySpace Era,” Pediatrics, Vol. 121, No. 1, 2008, pp. 157-61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-3015

[36] J. Sixsmith and C.D. Murray, “Ethical Issues in the Documentary Data Analysis of Internet Posts and Archives,” Qualitative Health Research, Vol. 11, No. 3, 2001, pp. 423-432. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/104973201129119109

[37] M. A. Moreno, et al., “Problematic Internet Use among US Youth: A Systematic Review,” Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Vol. 165, No. 9, 2011, pp. 797- 805. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.58