Summit
2025 APS Global Psychological Science Summit · 2025
Children's Social Connections, Internet Usage and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Global South
- Thomas Metherell
University of Cambridge - Thomas Metherell
University College London - Sebastian Kurten
University of Cambridge - Sakshi Ghai
London School of Economics & Political Science - Sakshi Ghai
University of Oxford - Daniel Kardefelt-Winther
UNICEF Office of Research–Innocenti - George Ploubidis
University College London - Darío Moreno-Agostino
King's College London - Darío Moreno-Agostino
University College London - Amy Orben
University of Cambridge
Abstract
We analysed data from the UNICEF Innocenti Disrupting Harm survey of 11,912 children aged 12–17 in 12 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. We did not find general associations of online social connection or general internet use with mental health outcomes, and conclude that more nuanced research is needed.
Digital Media
