Experimental longitudinal evidence for causal role of social media use and physical activity in COVID-19 burden and mental health

AIM: The COVID-19 outbreak has severely impacted people’s mental health. The present experimental study investigated how to reduce this negative effect by a combination of two interventions. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Participants (N(total) = 642) were users of social media in Germany. For two weeks, the social media group (N = 162) reduced its social media use (SMU) by 30 minutes daily, the physical activity group (N = 161) increased its physical activity by 30 minutes daily, the combination group (N = 159) followed both instructions, and the control group (N = 160) did not get specific instructions. Online surveys assessed variables of SMU, physical activity, mental health, COVID-19 burden, and lifestyle at six measurement time points up to six months after the intervention. RESULTS: In the experimental groups, (addictive) SMU, depression symptoms, and COVID-19 burden decreased, while physical activity, life satisfaction, and subjective happiness increased. All effects were stronger and more stable in the combination group in the longer-term. Smoking behavior decreased in the social media group only. CONCLUSION: Thus, the conscious combination of less SMU and more physical activity leads causally to more psychological resilience against negative pandemic impacts and to higher levels of mental health over six months. Prevention programs could improve their effectiveness by integrating the time- and cost-efficient interventions – separately or in combination. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10389-022-01751-x.