10
NEWS
Increasingly irritable?
Researchers have found that frequent social media use is associated
with increased irritability in US adults, showing a notable dose-response
relationship with posting frequency.
Researchers analysed data from two waves of an internet survey to
explore the link between social media use and irritability. The survey was
conducted across all 50 US states and the District of Columbia and included
42,597 adults. Participants self-reported their frequency of social media usage
and posting, ranging from less than once a week to most of the day, across
platforms such as Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok.
Among the survey respondents, 78.2% reported daily use of social media
platforms, with 24.9% using it most of the day. Researchers used the Brief
Irritability Test to evaluate irritability over the past two weeks, with higher
scores indicating greater irritability. Effects of political engagement, severity
of depressive symptoms, and anxiety were also evaluated in relation to the
association between social media and irritability.
The research found that frequent social media use was linked to
significantly higher irritability scores, especially for those using it more than
once a day than never, as well as for those with higher posting frequency.
Significant increases in irritability were noted for users of X, TikTok,
Instagram, and Facebook, especially for those who used these platforms for
most of the day.
The association between social media use and irritability persisted even
after accounting for depressive and anxious symptoms. Frequent political
discussions correlated with increased irritability, whereas following political
news was associated with a modest decrease in irritability.
PEOPLE FIRST. Innovation in diabetes management has accelerated
enormously since the discovery of insulin 100 years ago. However, widening
health inequalities can restrict access to new technologies, especially for
children and young people from ethnic minorities and socially deprived
communities. Let's make the next hundred years better, for all. - Sanofi UK
T1 decision
making tool
The NHS has produced an
online tool that can help people
decide between the different
technology available to manage
Type 1 diabetes.
The comprehensive sheet
addresses key topics and
guides the reader through
the information and choices
available across for key topics:
• About Type 1 diabetes
• A summary of the
technology available
• Which technology am I
eligible for?
• Helping you think about what
is important to you
The leaflet investigates diabetes
technology (CGMS, insulin and
insulin pens, insulin pumps and
hybrid closed loop systems) in
some depth, looking at their
function and how to choose
between the options and
brands available.
To download the tool,
click the pic!