hardsocial-mediaadolescent-mental-healthbody-imagesleep-disruptionsocial-comparisondepressiondisordered-eating
A 15-year-old girl is brought to the PMHNP by her parents after her school counselor expressed concerns about declining grades and social withdrawal over the past four months. Her parents report she spends 6-8 hours daily on social media platforms, frequently compares herself unfavorably to peers and influencers, has become preoccupied with her physical appearance, and has begun restricting food intake. She sleeps with her phone and reports difficulty falling asleep before 2:00 AM most nights. She describes feeling 'worthless' when her posts do not receive enough 'likes' and has stopped attending her volleyball team practices. She denies suicidal ideation, self-harm, or substance use. PHQ-9 score is 16. The PMHNP is assessing the relationship between social media use and this patient's clinical presentation. Which of the following most accurately reflects current evidence on the impact of social media on adolescent mental health?