The Story Behind the Study

When I began my PhD program and attended my first residency, we discussed the dissertation’s timeline and role within the program. My advisor offered guidance that stayed with me: don’t approach research determined to prove something you already believe. Instead, she encouraged me to sit with it and trust that, when the time came, the “research would find me.” Those words proved true.

Once I entered the dissertation phase, I spent time reflecting on my life, my work, my family, and the question I wanted to explore. Considering the experiences of women felt natural to me. I had gone through a divorce and knew the pain of isolation, the comparison that can come through social media, and how difficult it can be to hold on to hope during a dark season.

Reflecting on that time and the resilience that helped me through led to a study exploring social media use, belongingness, and suicidal ideation among women. I wanted to better understand these experiences and contribute to efforts addressing suicide among women in the United States. My research did indeed “find me,” and my hope is that its findings will benefit others.

The Study

This quantitative study examined the relationship between social media use, belongingness, and suicidal ideation among 98 adult women in the United States. Greater social media use was associated with greater suicidal ideation, while stronger feelings of belonging were associated with lower suicidal ideation. Social media use did not significantly alter the relationship between belongingness and suicidal ideation. The findings suggest opportunities for prevention efforts that promote healthy social media use and strengthen meaningful connection, with approaches tailored to women’s experiences.