Big Data/Machine Learning/AI
Symptoms of depression and anxiety and use of generative artificial intelligence, the metaverse, and social media and among U.S. adults Catherine Ettman* Catherine Ettman Alice Y. Fan Ross Hatton Haiyang Yang Salma M. Abdalla Sandro Galea
Advances in digital technologies such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), the metaverse, and social media are transforming society. There is growing concern about the link between digital technologies and mental health, but few studies have explored whether mental health is associated with use of newer digital technologies, such as ChatGPT and the metaverse, among the general adult population. Using data from the COVID-19 and Life Stressors Impact on Mental Health and Well-Being (CLIMB) study, a nationally representative, probability-based sample of U.S. adults collected in March-April 2023 (N=2,479), we explored the relation between positive screen for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7 ≥ 10) or depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10), demographic characteristics, and financial assets with the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI), metaverse, and social media. We used multivariable logistic regressions to estimate the odds of having ever used generative-AI such as ChatGPT, having ever used the metaverse, and using social media for more than 3 hours per day (which was the median number of daily use among responders), adjusting for mental health and demographic characteristics. Survey weights aligned the sample with the U.S. adult population according to the Current Population Survey. Persons who screened positive for anxiety or depression were more likely to report having ever used the metaverse and using social media for 3 or more hours a day but were not more likely to report having ever used generative-AI. Persons with positive screen for depression or anxiety are more likely to use the metaverse and use social media for more than 3 hours per day, suggesting that these platforms may each be used to engage persons with poor mental health. These findings highlight different associations between mental health and digital technology use, potentially paving the way for targeted mental health guardrails to ensure that potential adverse impacts of digital technologies are mitigated.