Adolescents who use messaging apps often have high self-esteem and low depression

Apr 16, 2025

Adolescents who use messaging apps often have high self-esteem and low depression
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A study found that the use of communication messaging apps such as Kakao Talk can help ease depression among adolescents. This is the result of a study by Choi Doo-hoon, a professor of media communication at Gachon University, published in the latest issue of the international journal 『BMC Psychology』.

A messaging app is an application that can send and receive messages such as text, images, voice, and video over the Internet.

The study analyzed the frequency of use of messaging apps once in 2017 and 2018, respectively, the level of self-esteem, depression, and neurotic tendencies of 801 adolescents living in Seoul and the metropolitan area.




As a result of the analysis, adolescents who frequently use messaging apps had higher self-esteem, and the higher the self-esteem, the lower the depression. In particular, adolescents with higher emotionally sensitive tendencies (neurotic tendencies) showed a clear effect of reducing depression when self-esteem was increased through the use of messaging apps.

Professor Choi Doo-hoon said, "According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four teenagers in Korea experience depression, and the mental health of adolescents is under great threatIt is necessary to find ways and possibilities to help adolescents' mental health through communication technology and media. In addition, "Adolescents can build good relationships with other friends through instant messaging apps such as Kakao Talk, and increase their self-esteem by communicating emotionally supporting and supporting each other, which greatly helps reduce depression."Guardians and educators should continue to be interested and guided for the correct use of communication and media technology used by youth."," he added.






This article was translated by Naver AI translator.