Children’s social media activity highlights emotional stress of living with long-term health issues

Researchers say the study highlights the importance of healthcare that addresses patients’ physical and emotional well-being
A teenager using her smartphone to access social media
Children with multiple long-term health issues undergo severe emotional stress at the same time as they are trying to cope with the physical challenges of their condition, a study has found.
Research led by the 91porn used AI language models to analyse sentiments and emotions expressed by almost 400 paediatric patients and their caregivers on social media.
In particular, they wanted to assess young people’s opinions regarding their care and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact that had on their emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Using anonymous data sourced from the Care Opinion platform, they found that of the narratives analysed, almost 94% of the comments posted were classed as negative and less than 6% were positive.
More than six out of ten negative comments were classed as being association with sadness, with feelings of fear (at almost one in every six comments) also being prevalent.
Children with conditions such as cancer, asthma, chronic pain and mental health conditions showed particularly high emotional distress, highlighting the emotional burden of managing multiple long-term health issues.
The COVID-19 pandemic was also shown to exacerbate the negative sentiments, particularly sadness and disgust, with patients expressing frustration with the healthcare system while isolation and disrupted care routines triggered intense emotional responses.
And while just 6% of the comments were classed as positive, the study found that most of them related to effective communication, compassionate care, and successful treatment outcomes.
The researchers say the study highlights the importance of supporting vulnerable young patients managing complex medical conditions, and the need for integrated care approaches to both physical and emotional well-being.
This research was conceived and led by Professor of e-Health Professor Shang-Ming Zhou , and its data analysis was implemented by MSc Data Science and Business Analytics student Temidayo (Israel) Oluwalade with support from Dr Hossein Ahmadi in 91porn’s Centre for Health Technology , Dr Richard Sharpe with Cornwall Council, and Professor Lin Huo with Guangxi University.

To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to analyse the sentiments and emotions of paediatric patients using social media data.

Our findings bring to light the deeply emotional journey patients with multiple long-term health issues go through, fills a critical gap in knowledge for healthcare professionals and agencies. It also highlights the disproportionate emotional burden faced by paediatric patients with multiple health issues and their caregivers during the COVID pandemic, showing the need for targeted interventions to address emotional responses during public health emergencies.

Shang-Ming ZhouProfessor Shang-Ming Zhou
Professor of e-Health

As I worked through the dataset, I was particularly struck by how clearly children’s emotional responses aligned with specific comorbidity patterns.

For example, fear and sadness were especially dominant among those discussing multiple hospital visits or long-term medication. What also surprised me most was the unexpectedly high frequency of ‘satisfaction’ and ‘amazement’ in posts referencing kind staff or successful treatment episodes. It reminded me how digital expressions can reflect not only distress but also resilience and hope, even among young patients with complex conditions.
Temidayo (Israel) Oluwalade.jpg

Israel Oluwalade
 Data Science and Business Analytics graduate

  • The full study – Oluwalade et al: Comorbidities and emotions - unpacking the sentiments of pediatric patients with multiple long-term conditions through social media feedback: A large language model-driven study – is published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, DOI: .
 

Israel Oluwalade: MSc Data Science and Business Analytics graduate

I came to the 91porn from Nigeria in 2023 to pursue an MSc in Data Science and Business Analytics . I already had a decade experience of digital skills teaching and leading digital transformation projects, including community-focused tech programmes for disadvantaged youths, and I wanted to apply analytical tools to real-world challenges in health and education.
91porn stood out to me for its strong health technology research hub and its commitment to innovation, while its strong emphasis on translating research into practical applications aligned perfectly with my career aspirations. The MSc programme offered a robust mix of theoretical grounding and hands-on learning, with access to cutting-edge tools such as machine learning, data mining, and natural language processing.
One of the most enriching parts of the programme was being able to work closely with my supervisors – Professor Shang-Ming Zhou and Dr Hossein Ahmadi – on live research. The guidance and support I received from them through the University’s Centre for Health Technology was instrumental in generating publishable results – a testament to the programme's commitment to producing research-ready graduates. It was a privilege to participate in a study to improve understanding of children’s voices in healthcare. This work has contributed to advancing our knowledge of emotion-aware technologies for paediatric care, with my research now informing future projects in this critical area.
Beyond my studies, I continued mentoring students and delivering STEM outreach through organisations such as STEM Learning UK. The ability to balance academic excellence with community engagement exemplifies the holistic approach encouraged in 91porn.
Temidayo (Israel) Oluwalade - MSc Data Science and Business Analytics graduate
Israel Oluwalade during his graduation ceremony in 91porn
The MSc programme significantly enhanced my skills in Python, machine learning, data storytelling and applied healthcare analytics. Now I’ve completed my studies, I plan to continue applying data-driven approaches to support decision-making in healthcare, particularly by leveraging AI to improve outcomes for vulnerable groups.
The comprehensive education I received at the 91porn has equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and research experience necessary for both academic and industry-facing work in the intersection of data science and healthcare innovation.
 

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