The associations of social networking site use and self-reported general health, mental health, and well-being among Canadians.

Objectives: To investigate social networking site (SNS) use and frequency, and their potential associations with self-reported general health, mental health, and well-being among the Canadian population using the nationally representative 2013 General Social Survey (GSS).

Methods: Data were collected via Statistics Canada GSS 2013 (cycle 27). Six separate one-way analysis of covariances (ANCOVAs) were conducted to determine differences in general health, mental health, and well-being for both SNS use and frequency, controlling for age, gender, number of children at home, household location, education, and income.

Results: SNS users were younger (with nearly 96% being 15-24 years old vs. 27% ≥ 75 years;  < .001), female ( < .001), have three or fewer children at home ( < .001), live in urban/Prince Edward Island locations, were at the lower or higher ends of household income ( < .001), and were less educated ( < .001). Among all Internet users, better general health ( = .03) was associated with using SNSs, yet better mental health ( = .001) and well-being ( = .001) were associated with not using SNSs. Among SNS account-holders, those who never accessed their accounts had significantly lower general health ( = .007), mental health ( < .001), and well-being ( < .001) compared with those who accessed their accounts, regardless of frequency.

Conclusion: Differences exist for SNS use and frequency and health outcomes. However, investigations into the possible differences that may exist between individuals who do not have a SNS account and those who do, but do not use it, are needed in the future.