Screen socialising and depressive symptoms among Norwegian adolescents and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Aims: This study aimed to assess associations between online gaming with others, online socialising and depressive symptoms among adolescents, and whether these associations changed before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2018, 2021 and 2023). Methods: Cross-sectional data among Norwegian adolescents aged 13–19 years in 2018, 2021 and 2023, comprising a total sample of 83,453 adolescents (Oslo: n =69,164; Møre og Romsdal: n =14,289), were used in the analyses. Multivariable binary logistic regression models, stratified by sex, were used to examine associations between online gaming with others, online socialising and depressive symptoms separately for each study year. The models were adjusted for school level, having trusted friends and perceived family economy. Results: Among girls, the results showed slightly higher odds of depressive symptoms during the pandemic than before the pandemic (odds ratio (OR)=1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1–1.2). Frequent online gaming with others and online socialising were associated with increased odds of depressive symptoms among boys (OR=1.2; 95% CI 1.1–1.4 and OR=1.5; 95% CI 1.3–1.6) and girls (OR=1.8; 95% CI 1.6–2.0 and OR=1.7; 95% CI 1.5–1.8). Among girls, weekly online gaming with others was associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms in 2021 (OR=1.4; 95% CI 1.2–1.6). Among boys with no online socialising, frequent online gaming with others was associated with increased odds of depressive symptoms (OR=1.8; 95% CI 1.3–2.3). Conclusions: Frequent online gaming with others and online socialising were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms among both boys and girls, with stronger associations observed among girls, particularly during the pandemic.