“Their Page is Still Up”: Social Media and Coping with Loss

Abstract

Young adults use social media (SM) to share life events, including loss of loved ones. In a national sample of U.S. young adults (n = 1,119), “grievers” were identified as those who had experienced the loss of a loved one who had a SM account (n = 415, 37%). Logistic regression analyses found that grievers and non-grievers did not differ by sociodemographic status. Content analysis of open-ended items revealed four ways in which SM had a positive influence and five ways in which it had a negative influence on grievers. This study could inform the development of strategies to optimize SM use among grievers.

Keywords:

• Social media
• young adults
• death
• grief
• bereavement

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Keith Jamison and Link Pietrusza for assistance in coding responses to the open-ended questions.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by a grant from the Fine Foundation.

Notes on contributors

Beth L. Hoffman

Ms. Beth L. Hoffman is a PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and a Research Assistant at the Center for Behavioral Health, Media, and Technology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Ariel Shensa

Dr. Ariel Shensa is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

César G. Escobar-Viera

Dr. César G. Escobar-Viera is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and a core faculty member of the Center for Behavioral Health, Media, and Technology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Jaime E. Sidani

Dr. Jaime E. Sidani is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and a core faculty member of the Center for Behavioral Health, Media, and Technologyiat the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Elizabeth Miller

Dr. Elizabeth Miller is Chief of Adolescent Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics, Public Health, and Clinical and Translational Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh.

Brian A. Primack

Dr. Brian A. Primack is Dean, College of Education and Health Professions and Professor of Public Health and Medicine at the University of Arkansas.