Social Media and Social (Dis)Connectedness in Autism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background:

While there is growing interest in the relationship between social media (SM) use and psychosocial well-being, little is known about this relationship in neurodivergent people. We undertook a systematic review to synthesize findings from studies exploring links between social (dis)connectedness and SM use in Autistic people and/or people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with the aim of exploring commonalities and differences in their experiences.

Methods:

We conducted systematic searches of four databases, retaining reports if they included SM-related measures and measures of social connectedness and/or disconnectedness in Autistic and/or ADHD populations. Two of us independently screened, coded, and assessed all records for methodological quality, with another of us screening just under 15% of records.

Results:

Our search yielded findings from 21 reports based on data from 18 studies. A narrative synthesis we undertook suggested that SM may be linked to greater social connectedness for Autistic people and greater social disconnectedness for those with ADHD. The literature was characterized by a predominance of cross-sectional research and the quality assessment highlighted measurement issues.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that SM may differentially support and hinder social connectedness for Autistic and ADHD SM user groups, respectively, although we discuss potential challenges to this conclusion, including potential biases in the way studies are framed and key constructs are operationalized across the different literatures. Our review highlights the need for further longitudinal and experimental research to establish underlying directions of causality and the robustness of our findings.

Community Brief

Why is this an important issue?

Social media (SM) use is becoming nearly ubiquitous, and there is growing concern that this may be linked to increases in mental health difficulties. Despite this, existing research suggests a range of potential benefits as well as harms, including the potential for SM to both enhance social connection and replicate offline experiences of disconnection. Such opportunities and risks may be particularly relevant to neurodivergent people, who experience high levels of stigma and discrimination.

What is the purpose of the review?

Our purpose in undertaking this review was to synthesize existing research into links between SM use and social connectedness and disconnectedness in Autistic people and people with ADHD. We were particularly interested in commonalities and differences in their experiences. Ultimately, we hope that the findings will inform future research and potentially shape the development of guidelines, tools, interventions, and/or supports to help neurodivergent people to flourish online.

What did the authors do to review the literature?

We conducted a systematic review to synthesize existing quantitative research that explored SM, social connectedness, and/or disconnectedness in Autistic and/or ADHD people. We ran searches of four key databases to identify articles focusing on these three areas, and synthesized the findings. We also used tools to assess the quality of the studies included.

What studies did the authors find?

We found 21 reports based on 18 studies that met our criteria.

In summary, what did those studies show?

The studies reviewed highlighted links between SM use and increased social connectedness for Autistic users, and between SM use and increased social disconnectedness for ADHD users. We also found that there was little consensus on how SM and connectedness/disconnectedness should be measured, and many of the measures used were not of the highest quality.

What are the remaining gaps in the literature?

Most of the studies reviewed included data from a single time point only, so that it could not be determined whether SM use impacts connectedness, or experiences of connectedness drive patterns of SM use. There was also a greater focus on potential harms in the ADHD literature, so that it is unclear whether the different findings we found for Autistic and ADHD SM users reflect differences in their actual experiences, or differences in the way that the research is approached.

Based on this review, what do the authors recommend?

From a research perspective, future research should use longitudinal and experimental designs to determine the underlying direction of causality. In addition, research should disentangle genuine differences in the online experiences of Autistic and ADHD people, from different methods used, which may be driven by researchers’ prior assumptions. Finally, research should explore how the design of SM platforms shapes users’ experiences. From a clinical perspective, we hope that this research will encourage mental health professionals to consider neurodivergent people’s online lives alongside their offline lives, particularly as a potential source of connectedness and/or disconnectedness.