The associations of social networking site use and self-reported general health, mental health, and well-being among Canadians

OBJECTIVES: To investigate social networking site (SNS) use and frequency, and their potential associations with self-reported general health, mental health, and well-being among the Canadian population using the nationally representative 2013 General Social Survey (GSS). METHODS: Data were collected via Statistics Canada GSS 2013 (cycle 27). Six separate one-way analysis of covariances (ANCOVAs) were conducted to determine differences in general health, mental health, and well-being for both SNS use and frequency, controlling for age, gender, number of children at home, household location, education, and income. RESULTS: SNS users were younger (with nearly 96% being 15–24 years old vs. 27% ≥ 75 years; p < .001), female (p < .001), have three or fewer children at home (p < .001), live in urban/Prince Edward Island locations, were at the lower or higher ends of household income (p < .001), and were less educated (p < .001). Among all Internet users, better general health (p = .03) was associated with using SNSs, yet better mental health (p = .001) and well-being (p = .001) were associated with not using SNSs. Among SNS account-holders, those who never accessed their accounts had significantly lower general health (p = .007), mental health (p < .001), and well-being (p < .001) compared with those who accessed their accounts, regardless of frequency. CONCLUSION: Differences exist for SNS use and frequency and health outcomes. However, investigations into the possible differences that may exist between individuals who do not have a SNS account and those who do, but do not use it, are needed in the future.