163. Increased social media affects life satisfaction in girls earlier than boys
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Social media use might affect the mental health and life satisfaction of young girls earlier than it does for boys. In a new study published in the journal Nature Communications, psychologists at the University of Cambridge analyzed data from about 84,000 British people between 10 and 80 years old. They found that girls who increased their time on social media between the ages of 11 and 13 were less satisfied with their lives one year later. That same trend occurred in boys, but at ages 14 and 15. They believe that while not proving social media harms wellbeing, this study shows how social media can affect life satisfaction, with different windows of vulnerability for boys and girls.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
