Social media linked to mental health problems

by Laura Donnelly

Teenagers who spend more than three hours a day on social media may have double the risk of mental health problems as those who shun it, research suggests.

risk /rɪsk/ n. 风险
mental /ˈment(ə)l/ adj. 心理的、精神的
shun /ʃʌn/ v. 避开
suggest /səˈdʒest/ v. 提出、表明

The study of more than 6,000 children aged 12 to 15 found those who used social media more heavily were more likely to report issues such as depression, anxiety and loneliness, as well as aggression and anti-social behaviour, than teenagers who did not use social media. The findings held true even when researchers took into account mental health problems experienced by any young person in the year before they were asked about social media use.

depression /dɪˈpreʃ(ə)n/ n. 抑郁
anxiety /æŋˈzaɪəti/ n. 焦虑
loneliness /ˈləʊnlinəs/ n. 孤独（由lonely加后缀-ness变成名词）
as well as = and also
aggression /əˈɡreʃ(ə)n/ n. 好斗
anti- 前缀，表示“反、抗”
hold true 依然正确、仍然有效
researcher /rɪˈsɜːtʃə(r)/ n. 研究者（由research加上表示人的后缀-er）
take into account 把…考虑进来

The research, from a team at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Maryland, was published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

Maryland /ˈmeərilænd/ n. 马里兰（美国东部的州）
publish /ˈpʌblɪʃ/ v. 发表
journal /ˈdʒɜːn(ə)l/ n. 期刊

Some previous studies have suggested no link between poorer mental health and screen time. Dr Rina Dutta, senior clinical lecturer at King's College London, said: "A major strength of this study compared to previous research is that the researchers took into account mental health problems the young people already had a year prior to the measurement of social media use. This largely overcomes the 'what came first – mental health problem or high social media use?' question."

link /lɪŋk/ n. 联系
poor /pʊə(r)/ adj. 不好的、差的
senior /ˈsiːniə(r)/ adj. 高级别的
clinical /ˈklɪnɪk(ə)l/ adj. 临床的
lecturer /ˈlektʃ(ə)rə(r)/ n. 讲师（由lecture加上表示人的后缀-er）
major /ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/ adj. 主要的、重大的
strength /streŋθ/ n. 优点、优势
prior /ˈpraɪə(r)/ to 在…之前
measurement /ˈmeʒəmənt/ n. 测量、衡量（由measure加后缀-ment变成名词）
largely /ˈlɑːdʒli/ adv. 基本上、在很大程度上（由large加后缀-ly变成副词）
overcome /ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/ v. 克服、解决

The study looked at two types of behaviours that can indicate mental health problems: internalising and externalising. Internalising can involve social withdrawal or difficulty coping with anxiety or depression. Externalising can include aggression or disobeying instructions.

indicate /ˈɪndɪkeɪt/ v. 表明
internalise /ɪnˈtɜːn(ə)laɪz/ v. 内在化（由internal加后缀-ise变成动词）
externalise /ɪkˈstɜːn(ə)laɪz/ v. 外在化（由external加后缀-ise变成动词）
withdrawal /wɪðˈdrɔː(ə)l/ n. 退出、不再参加（这里指不再社交）
cope /kəʊp/ v. 处理、应付
disobey /ˌdɪsəˈbeɪ/ v. 不服从（由obey加上表示否定的前缀dis-）
instruction /ɪnˈstrʌkʃ(ə)n/ n. 指示、教导

The study found that the use of social media for at least three hours a day was associated with around twice the risk of mental health problems, compared with those who shunned it.

associate /əˈsəʊsieɪt/ v. 联系、关联

Lead author Kira Riehm said: "Many existing studies have found a link between digital or social media use and adolescent health, but few look at this association across time. We cannot conclude that social media causes mental health problems, but we do think that less time on social media may be better for teens' health."

lead /liːd/ adj. 领头的
existing /ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ/ adj. 现存的
adolescent /ˌædəˈles(ə)nt/ n. 青少年
association /əˌsəʊsiˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 联系、关联（由associate加后缀-ion变成名词）
conclude /kənˈkluːd/ v. 下结论
cause /kɔːz/ v. 造成、导致
teen /tiːn/ = teenager

The study found that fewer than 17 per cent of adolescents did not use social media. Of those who did, 32 per cent spent less than 30 minutes a day, 31 per cent spent 30 minutes to three hours, 12 per cent spent three to six hours and 8 per cent spent more than six hours per day.

Ms Riehm said: "Social media has the ability to connect adolescents who may be excluded in their daily life. We need to find a better way to balance the benefits of social media with possible negative health outcomes."

exclude /ɪkˈskluːd/ v. 排斥、排挤
balance /ˈbæl(ə)ns/ v. 使平衡
negative /ˈneɡətɪv/ adj. 不好的、负面的
outcome /ˈaʊtkʌm/ n. 结果

英文原文节选自The Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/11/social-media-linked-increased-risk-mental-health-problems/