Higher Time Spent On Social Networking Activities Predicts Moderately Higher Fear for Population

Higher Time Spent On Social Networking Activities Predicts Moderately Higher Fear for Population

Contents

Variables

A
Time Spent on Social Networking Activities 727
A
Fear 1115

Categories

A
Activities 1637
A
Emotions 2028

Actions

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Your Data

Tags

Medium Confidence
Weak Effect Size
Positive Relationship
Population Study
cause image gauge image effect image
Participants reported a 22.3% average increase in Fear following above average Time Spent On Social Networking Activities.

Abstract

Fear was generally 20.4273% higher than average after 3 hours of Time Spent On Social Networking Activities per 7 days.

Aggregated data from 11 study participants suggests with a MEDIUM degree of confidence (p=0.194, 95% CI -0.357 to 1.033) that Time Spent On Social Networking Activities has a moderately positive predictive relationship (R=0.338) with Fear.

The highest quartile of Fear measurements were observed following an average 5 hours Time Spent On Social Networking Activities per day.

The lowest quartile of Fear measurements were observed following an average 3 hours of Time Spent On Social Networking Activities per day.

After an onset delay of 0 seconds, Fear is typically 9% lower than average over the 7 days following around 3 hours of Time Spent On Social Networking Activities Time Spent On Social Networking Activities.

Keywords: Time Spent On Social Networking Activities, Fear, N-of-1 trials, real-world evidence, causal inference, observational study

Moderate Confidence: Based on 11 participants. More data would increase certainty.

Results

Primary Findings

Analysis of 159 paired observations from 11 participants revealed a moderate improvement in Fear following above-average Time Spent On Social Networking Activities exposure.

+20.4%
Change from Baseline
Moderate effect on Fear
0.23
Predictor Impact Score
Weak evidence for causal relationship

Supporting Statistics

Medium
Confidence
0.338
Correlation (r)
p = 0.062
Significance
z = 0.94
Effect Magnitude
φ = 1.00
Temporality

What This Means

When participants had above-average Time Spent On Social Networking Activities:

  • Fear increased by 20.4% on average
  • Temporal analysis supports Time Spent On Social Networking Activities as the predictor (not the outcome)

Interpreting the Predictor Impact Score

The Predictor Impact Score (PIS) integrates multiple Bradford Hill causal criteria into a single metric. Use this guide to interpret the score:

PIS Range Interpretation Recommended Action
≥ 0.5 Strong evidence High priority for RCT validation
0.3 - 0.5 Moderate evidence Consider for experimental investigation
0.1 - 0.3 Weak evidence Monitor for additional data
< 0.1 Insufficient evidence Low priority; may be noise

Note: PIS is a prioritization heuristic, not proof of causation. High scores indicate relationships worth investigating, not confirmed causal effects. With only 11 participants, these scores are preliminary and will become more reliable as additional data is collected.

Optimal Daily Values (Precision Dosing)

Based on the observed relationship, we can estimate the predictor values associated with the best and worst outcomes. These values enable personalized dosing recommendations.

⚠️ Preliminary Data: With 11 participants and 159 observations, these optimal values are preliminary estimates. As more data is collected, precision will improve significantly.

4.3 h
Value Predicting Higher Fear
Average Time Spent On Social Networking Activities when Fear exceeded its mean
3.2 h
Value Predicting Lower Fear
Average Time Spent On Social Networking Activities when Fear was below its mean

What This Suggests

Fear tended to be highest when Time Spent On Social Networking Activities was around 4.3 h.

Important: These values reflect correlations, not guaranteed causal effects. Individual responses may vary. Use as a starting point for personal experimentation, not as a definitive prescription. Consult healthcare providers before making treatment decisions.

Population Correlation

Time Spent On Social Networking Activities Distribution

Fear Distribution

Statistical Summary

Relationship Statistics

Property Value
Cause Variable Name Time Spent On Social Networking Activities
Effect Variable Name Fear
Sinn Predictive Coefficient 0.22542286931201
Confidence Level MEDIUM
Confidence Interval 0.69468183235772
Forward Pearson Predictive Coefficient 0.3379
Critical T Value 1.837
Total Time Spent On Social Networking Activities Over Previous 7 days Before ABOVE Average Fear 5 hours
Total Time Spent On Social Networking Activities Over Previous 7 days Before BELOW Average Fear 3 hours
Duration of Action 7 days
Effect Size moderately positive
Number of Paired Measurements 159
Optimal Pearson Product 0.25909515919466
P Value 0.19401603125778
Statistical Significance 0.0615
Strength of Relationship 0.69468183235772
Study Type population
Analysis Performed At 2026-01-04
Number of Participants 11

Time Spent on Social Networking Activities Info

Property Value
Variable Name Time Spent On Social Networking Activities
Aggregation Method SUM
Analysis Performed At 2020-09-23
Duration of Action 7 days
Filling Value 0
Kurtosis 67.149294596565
Maximum Allowed Value 7 days
Mean 15 minutes
Median 8 minutes
Minimum Allowed Value 0 seconds
Number of Aggregate Predictors 562
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 165
Number of Measurements 29855
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 1843
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 0.37101258275092
Unit Hours
User Variables 86
Variable Category Activities
Variable ID 111592
Variance 0.25119369187129

Fear Info

Property Value
Variable Name Fear
Aggregation Method MEAN
Analysis Performed At 2020-09-17
Duration of Action 24 hours
Kurtosis 3.4116931250559
Maximum Allowed Value 5 out of 5
Mean 2.2840202686203 out of 5
Median 2.2359612572647 out of 5
Minimum Allowed Value 1 out of 5
Number of Aggregate Predictors 1002
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 113
Number of Measurements 22861
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 22709
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 0.47483589524388
Unit 1 to 5 Rating
User Variables 1670
UPC 0
Variable Category Emotions
Variable ID 1313
Variance 0.56609015151219

Introduction

Background

Time Spent On Social Networking Activities (Activities) and Fear (Emotions) are both important factors in understanding human health and well-being. This study investigates the relationship between these two variables using real-world observational data.

Traditional randomized controlled trials (RCTs), while the gold standard for causal inference, are often impractical, expensive, or unethical for studying many health relationships. Aggregated N-of-1 observational studies offer a complementary approach that leverages within-subject comparisons across large populations to identify meaningful patterns.

Research Question

Do Time Spent On Social Networking Activities affect Fear?

Additionally, we seek to determine:

  1. What is the direction and magnitude of any effect?
  2. How confident can we be in this relationship based on the available data?
  3. What are the optimal levels of Time Spent On Social Networking Activities for maximizing Fear?

Study Objective

The objective of this study is to determine the nature of the relationship (if any) between Time Spent On Social Networking Activities and Fear. Additionally, we attempt to determine the Time Spent On Social Networking Activities values most likely to produce optimal Fear values.

Study Overview

This is a population-level observational study using aggregated N-of-1 methodology. By aggregating individual N-of-1 experiments, we can identify population-level patterns while accounting for the substantial individual variation that exists in most health relationships. Effect sizes are reported as percent change from baseline, enabling intuitive interpretation and comparison across different measures.

Full Methodology: Framework for Real-World Evidence-Based Pharmacovigilance: Aggregated N-of-1 Trials for Quantifying Treatment Effects

Discussion

Interpretation of Findings

Participants experienced a 20.4% improvement in Fear following above-average Time Spent On Social Networking Activities exposure. The Predictor Impact Score (PIS) of 0.23 indicates weak evidence for a causal relationship.

Statistical Significance

Using a two-tailed t-test with alpha = 0.05, it was determined that the change in Fear is not statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval. This suggests that the Time Spent On Social Networking Activities value may not have a significant influence on the Fear value, or that more data is needed to detect an effect.

After treatment, a 22.3% increase (0.438 out of 5) from the mean baseline 1.97 out of 5 was observed. The relative standard deviation at baseline was 34.0818%. The observed change was 0.943035 times the standard deviation.

A common rule of thumb considers a change greater than twice the baseline standard deviation on two separate pre-post experiments may be considered significant. This occurrence would have only a 5% likelihood of resulting from random fluctuation (a p-value < 0.05).

T-Test Details
Observed t-value: 1.555
Critical t-value: 1.837

Since t = 1.55 < 1.84, we cannot reject the null hypothesis.

Biological Plausibility

A plausible bio-chemical mechanism between predictor and outcome is critical for interpreting observational findings. This is where human judgment excels beyond statistical analysis.

Community feedback on the biological plausibility of this relationship is still being collected. Consider the known mechanisms by which Time Spent On Social Networking Activities might influence Fear.

Bradford Hill Criteria Assessment

The Bradford Hill criteria provide a framework for assessing causality in observational studies. Our methodology operationalizes six of the nine criteria through the Predictor Impact Score (PIS):

Criterion How Addressed Metric
Strength Effect size magnitude Percent change from baseline (Δ%), z-score
Consistency Cross-participant replication Number of users (N), number of pairs (n)
Temporality Predictor precedes outcome Temporality factor (φ), onset delay (δ > 0)
Biological Gradient Dose-response relationship Gradient coefficient (φgradient)
Plausibility Biological mechanism assessment Community votes on mechanism plausibility
Specificity Category appropriateness Interest factor (finterest)

Predictor Impact Score (PIS)

The PIS integrates multiple Bradford Hill criteria into a composite metric quantifying how reliably a predictor affects an outcome. Higher scores indicate stronger evidence:

Population-Level PIS:

$$\text{PIS}_{\text{agg}} = |r_{\text{forward}}| \cdot w \cdot \phi_{\text{users}} \cdot \phi_{\text{pairs}} \cdot \phi_{\text{change}} \cdot \phi_{\text{gradient}}$$

Where φ-factors are saturation functions approaching 1 as evidence accumulates:

  • φusers = 1 - e-N/10 (user saturation)
  • φpairs = 1 - e-n/nsig (pair saturation)
  • φchange = 1 - e-Δspread/Δsig (effect spread saturation)
  • w = weighted average of plausibility votes

Temporality Assessment

We assess evidence for correct causal direction using the temporality factor:

$$\phi_{\text{temporal}} = \frac{|r_{\text{forward}}|}{|r_{\text{forward}}| + |r_{\text{reverse}}|}$$

Values approaching 1 indicate the predictor precedes the outcome (supporting causation); values near 0.5 suggest ambiguous directionality; values near 0 suggest reverse causation or confounding by indication.

Limitations

As with any observational study, correlation does not prove causation. Key limitations include:

  • Unmeasured confounders: Variables not tracked may influence results
  • Self-selection bias: Health trackers may differ from the general population
  • Measurement error: Self-reported data may contain recall bias
  • Confounding by indication: Sicker individuals may use more treatments

However, within-subject comparison and temporal precedence analysis partially mitigate these limitations. If the relationship is merely coincidental, as participants independently modify their Time Spent On Social Networking Activities values, the observed strength will decline over time. Spurious correlations naturally dissipate as more data is collected.

Future Directions

Future research should examine:

  • Subgroup analyses to identify individual differences in response
  • Potential confounders and mediators of the observed relationship
  • Optimal dosing and timing for Time Spent On Social Networking Activities
  • Confirmation through prospective or randomized designs
  • Biological mechanisms underlying the observed effects

Conclusion

📊 Preliminary Findings: With 11 participants, these results are based on limited data. Effect sizes and confidence will improve as more participants contribute data. Consider these findings directional rather than definitive.

Above-average Time Spent On Social Networking Activities was associated with a 20.4% improvement in Fear—a moderate effect. The Predictor Impact Score of 0.23 indicates this relationship is warranting continued monitoring.

Bottom Line: Based on a PIS of 0.23 and a 20.4% effect size, this relationship shows weak evidence. Additional observational data is recommended before investing in experimental validation. Note: These conclusions may strengthen or change direction as more data is collected.

These findings contribute to our understanding of how Time Spent On Social Networking Activities may influence Fear in real-world conditions. While preliminary, these results may inform future research directions. As more participants contribute data, the reliability and precision of these findings will improve substantially.

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Methods

Study Design

This study is based on data donated by 11 participants. Thus, the study design is equivalent to the aggregation of 11 separate n=1 observational natural experiments.

This within-subject design is powerful because it controls for all stable individual characteristics (genetics, baseline health status, socioeconomic factors) that might otherwise confound the relationship between variables.

Data Analysis

Temporal Assumptions

The analysis incorporates temporal assumptions about the relationship between variables:

  • Onset Delay: It was assumed that 0 seconds would pass before a change in Time Spent On Social Networking Activities would produce an observable change in Fear.
  • Duration of Action: It was assumed that Time Spent On Social Networking Activities could produce an observable change in Fear for as much as 7 days after the stimulus event.

Statistical Methods

For each participant, we calculated the Pearson correlation coefficient between Time Spent On Social Networking Activities values and subsequent Fear values. Individual correlations were then aggregated using Fisher's z-transformation to produce a population-level estimate:

Individual Correlation:

$$r_i = \frac{\sum(x_{ij} - \bar{x}_i)(y_{ij} - \bar{y}_i)}{\sqrt{\sum(x_{ij} - \bar{x}_i)^2 \sum(y_{ij} - \bar{y}_i)^2}}$$

Fisher's Z-Transformation:

$$z_i = \frac{1}{2} \ln\left(\frac{1 + r_i}{1 - r_i}\right)$$

Aggregated Correlation:

$$\bar{r} = \tanh(\bar{z}) \quad \text{where} \quad \bar{z} = \frac{1}{N}\sum_{i=1}^{N} z_i$$

Effect Size Calculation

Effect sizes are reported as percent change from baseline. For each participant, we compare the outcome following above-average predictor values to the overall baseline outcome:

$$\Delta\%_{\text{baseline}} = \frac{\bar{O}_{\text{follow-up}} - \bar{O}_{\text{baseline}}}{\bar{O}_{\text{baseline}}} \times 100$$

Effect Magnitude (Z-Score)

To assess effect magnitude relative to natural variability, we calculate the z-score:

$$z = \frac{|\Delta\%_{\text{baseline}}|}{\text{RSD}_{\text{baseline}}}$$

where RSDbaseline is the relative standard deviation of outcome during baseline period

A z-score > 2 indicates statistical significance (p < 0.05), meaning the observed change exceeds typical baseline fluctuation and is unlikely due to random variation.

Statistical Significance

Correlation significance is assessed using a two-tailed t-test:

$$t = \frac{r\sqrt{n-2}}{\sqrt{1-r^2}}$$

We reject the null hypothesis (ρ = 0) at α = 0.05 when |t| exceeds the critical value, providing statistical evidence that the observed relationship is not due to chance.

Data Sources

Time Spent On Social Networking Activities data was primarily collected using RescueTime. Detailed reports show which applications and websites you spent time on. Activities are automatically grouped into pre-defined categories with built-in productivity scores covering thousands of websites and applications. You can customize categories and productivity scores to meet your needs.

Fear data was primarily collected using QuantiModo. QuantiModo allows you to easily track mood, symptoms, or any outcome you want to optimize in a fraction of a second. You can also import your data from over 30 other apps and devices. QuantiModo then analyzes your data to identify which hidden factors are most likely to be influencing your mood or symptoms.

Data Quality

Data quality measures were applied to ensure reliable results:

  • Minimum Data Requirement: Only participants with sufficient paired observations were included in the analysis.
  • Outlier Handling: Extreme values were winsorized to reduce the influence of measurement errors.
  • Missing Data: Days with missing values were handled using appropriate filling strategies based on the variable type.
  • Test User Exclusion: Test accounts and invalid users were excluded from all analyses.

Principal Investigator

Program & Methods

Mike P. Sinn
Sinn, M. P.

Designed and implemented data collection, aggregation, causal inference pipeline, and automated study generation framework. Developed the Predictor Impact Score methodology operationalizing Bradford Hill criteria for ranking causal relationships in observational data. When he tells people this at parties, they usually say they have to go check on their car.

Individual study outputs are automated, reproducible, and open to external audit. (Which I would seriously recommend.)

Contact

Cite This Study

APA Format
Sinn, M. P. (2026). Causal Analysis: Does Time Spent On Social Networking Activities Affect Fear?. The Journal of Citizen Science. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-111592-effect-1313-population-study
BibTeX 
@misc{sinn_cause_111592_effect_1313_population_study_2026,
  author = {Sinn, Mike P.},
  title = {Causal Analysis: Does Time Spent On Social Networking Activities Affect Fear?},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {The Journal of Citizen Science},
  url = {https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-111592-effect-1313-population-study},
  note = {Accessed: January 9, 2026}
}
Chicago/Turabian
Sinn, Mike P. "Causal Analysis: Does Time Spent On Social Networking Activities Affect Fear?." The Journal of Citizen Science. Accessed January 9, 2026. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-111592-effect-1313-population-study.
Harvard
Sinn, M.P., 2026. Causal Analysis: Does Time Spent On Social Networking Activities Affect Fear?. [Aggregated N-of-1 Study] The Journal of Citizen Science. Available at: https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-111592-effect-1313-population-study [Accessed January 9, 2026].

Study Type: Aggregated N-of-1 Observational Mega-Study
Evidence Level: Level II (Real-World Evidence)
Methodology: Bradford Hill Criteria with Predictor Impact Score (PIS)

References

This framework was originally developed in 2013 based on the Bradford Hill criteria. Subsequent literature has independently validated similar approaches to causal inference from observational data:

  1. Hill, A.B. (1965). The environment and disease: association or causation? Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, 58(5), 295-300. [Bradford Hill criteria]
  2. Lillie, E.O., et al. (2011). The n-of-1 clinical trial: the ultimate strategy for individualizing medicine? Personalized Medicine, 8(2), 161-173. [N-of-1 methodology]
  3. Pearl, J. (2009). Causality: Models, Reasoning, and Inference . Cambridge University Press. [Causal inference]
  4. Hernán, M.A., & Robins, J.M. (2020). Causal Inference: What If . Chapman & Hall/CRC. [Free textbook]
  5. FDA (2018). Framework for FDA's Real-World Evidence Program . U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [Regulatory context]
  6. Duan, N., et al. (2013). Single-patient (n-of-1) trials: a pragmatic clinical decision methodology . Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 66(8), S21-S28.
  7. Platt, R., et al. (2018). The FDA Sentinel Initiative—an evolving national resource . New England Journal of Medicine, 379(22), 2091-2093.

This information is for research and educational purposes only, not medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider before making health decisions. Terms of Service

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