Riesgo de suicidio en la era digital: explorando las asociaciones de la comparación ascendente y el uso problemático de las redes sociales en la juventud española
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El suicidio es la tercera causa de muerte entre personas de 15 a 29 años, con factores de riesgo diversos: biológicos, psicológicos, sociales y ambientales. Estudios recientes señalan que la comparación social ascendente y el uso problemático de redes sociales se asocian con un aumento en los problemas de salud mental. A su vez, la regulación emocional podría mitigar estos efectos y desempeñar un papel protector frente al riesgo de suicidio. Este estudio, con 256 adolescentes y jóvenes adultos (66% mujeres; Medad = 19.25, DT = 3.23), analizó el impacto de la comparación ascendente y el uso problemático de redes sociales sobre el riesgo de suicidio, así como el papel protector de la regulación emocional. A través de un diseño transversal, los participantes completaron un cuestionario online con diversas escalas estandarizadas. Los resultados confirmaron que la comparación ascendente se asociaba significativamente con niveles más altos de riesgo de suicidio, mientras que la regulación emocional los reducía. Estos hallazgos subrayan el posible papel de la comparación social ascendente como un proceso psicológico implicado en el desarrollo del riesgo de suicidio durante la adolescencia y la adultez joven. La implementación de programas psicoeducativos y de alfabetización digital dirigidos a jóvenes es fundamental para mitigar los efectos perjudiciales del contenido de las redes sociales y de sus patrones de uso, y para promover estrategias saludables de regulación emocional.
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