From TikTok Keeps Me Going to TikTok Keeps Me Unknowing: Profiling Adolescents Based on Their Online Short Video Use for Mental Health Information and Support
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: There is much debate on how online short videos (OSVs) on social media (e.g. TikToks) may interact with adolescent mental health. For example, there is concern about adolescents using these videos for mental health information and support. The goal of this study was to identify groups of adolescents based on their OSV use for mental health information and support, and to examine differences between these groups.Methods: We conducted an online cross-sectional survey in 2024 among Dutch adolescents with and without mental health complaints (general sample: N = 1532; Mage = 14.20; 53.92% female, 44.97% male, .85% other; clinical subsample: N = 239; Mage = 15.70; 65.69% female, 34.31% male, 0.00% other). We inquired them about their OSV use, mental health, mental health literacy and attachment representations. Results: In both samples, we identified three profiles: Regular users, Occasional users, and Non-users. In the clinical subsample, we additionally identified two groups: Intermittent users and Support seekers. In both samples, profiles characterized by higher consumption of mental health information and/or support via OSVs experienced more severe mental health concerns, more insecure attachment representations, and greater mental health literacy. Conclusions: These results show that different adolescents use online short videos differently. There is a need for targeted research and interventions, as not all adolescents use OSVs equally and may thus ultimately experience different positive and negative effects.
Source: PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints)
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204810974