Reflective and brooding rumination as moderators of the associations between positive and negative social media experiences, depressed and anxious mood, and positive and negative affect among Hispanic adults: A daily diary approach.

INTRODUCTION

Beyond the frequency of social media use, the valence of social media experiences is important to consider. The current study examined how positive and negative social media experiences associate with mental health and well-being-related outcomes while also assessing how reflective and brooding rumination may moderate these associations given the role of rumination in mood, affect, and social experiences. Investigation among Hispanic groups is crucial as Hispanics report non-trivial rates of social media use and depressive and anxiety symptoms.

METHOD: Seventy-five Hispanic adults participated in a 14-day daily diary study investigating the within- and between-person associations between positive and negative social media experiences, depressed and anxious mood, and positive and negative affect. Reflective and brooding rumination were analyzed as moderators of these associations.

RESULTS

Disaggregated multilevel models showed that positive social media experiences were positively associated with positive affect within and between participants. Additionally, positive social media experiences were inversely associated with depressed mood when reflective rumination was high but not when reflective rumination was low. Negative social media experiences were positively associated with depressed and anxious mood and negative affect within and between participants. Exploratory analyses demonstrated that daily social media use frequency may moderate associations between social media experiences and well-being-related outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The valence of people's experiences on social media is important to consider, as positive and negative social media experiences were differentially associated with mood and affect. Reflective rumination in particular is important when considering the association between positive social media experiences and depressed mood.