Abstract Background Social media has become increasingly widespread among young adults, yet its relationship to depression and anxiety may depend on the users’ experiences. For LGB+ individuals, who exhibit disproportionate rates of anxiety and depression, social media may present a unique source of acceptance or of hostility and stress. Methods This study examined whether sexual orientation (SO) moderated the relationship between social media experiences of acceptance of acceptance and hostility and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, and social media experiences were completed by 382 young adults from a large Midwestern university at three time points. Results Significant interactions were observed between SO and social media experiences of acceptance on depression from T1 to T2 and T1 to T3. Similar results were found for anxiety from T1 to T2. Higher levels of acceptance on social media predicted lower symptoms of depression and anxiety in LGB+, but not heterosexual, participants. No significant interactions were observed between SO and social media experiences of hostility on depression or anxiety. Conclusion Social media may serve as an important should of support and acceptance, rather than a source of hostility, that can protect against depression and anxiety in LGB+ individuals.

中文翻译：

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社交媒体体验对 LGB+ 和异性恋年轻人抑郁和焦虑的纵向影响

摘要背景社交媒体在年轻人中变得越来越普遍，但其与抑郁和焦虑的关系可能取决于用户的体验。对于表现出不成比例的焦虑和抑郁率的 LGB+ 个人而言，社交媒体可能是接受或敌意和压力的独特来源。方法 本研究检验了性取向 (SO) 是否调节了社交媒体接受接受和敌意的体验与抑郁和焦虑症状之间的关系。来自中西部一所大型大学的 382 名年轻人在三个时间点完成了评估抑郁、焦虑和社交媒体体验的问卷。结果在 T1 到 T2 和 T1 到 T3 期间观察到 SO 和社交媒体对抑郁症的接受体验之间存在显着的相互作用。从 T1 到 T2 的焦虑也有类似的结果。社交媒体上更高的接受度预示着 LGB+（而非异性恋）参与者的抑郁和焦虑症状较低。在 SO 和社交媒体对抑郁或焦虑的敌意体验之间没有观察到显着的相互作用。结论 社交媒体可以作为重要的支持和接受，而不是敌意的来源，可以防止 LGB+ 个体的抑郁和焦虑。