RESEARCH TOPIC: THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON MENTAL HEALTH: EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

RESEARCH TOPIC: THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON MENTAL HEALTH: EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

Introduction

Mental health is a state where an individual is able to manage his learning abilities, stress and make healthy choices (Abbas, et al., 2021). In the age of digitalization when human beings are quite active on social media it is a challenge for them to manage their mental health as they come across various news, incidents, and the pressure of being new age generation needs to stay connected on online platform for maximum hours, etc (Naslund et al., 2020). This has exposed them to issues like anxiety, suicidal thoughts, depression, self-harm, and loneliness. They are lacking the balancing skills and decision-making abilities about where to draw a line to ensure sound mental health.

Background

According to We Are Social (2020), 3.8 billion individuals, or over half of the population of the world, used social media in 2020. According to recent studies, people with mental problems are increasingly accessing and using mobile technologies, such as smartphones. Furthermore, research has found that people with mental illnesses use social media at significant rates across a variety of situations and conditions. Initial research from 2015 revealed that over half of mental patients used social media, with younger people using it more frequently. Similarly, to this, a study by Karim et al. (2020) found that 79% of people with schizophrenia who were either inpatients or outpatients reported accessing social media, with 47% of them doing so at least once a week. In recent years, the prevalence of social media use among people with mental illness has increased. For instance, a 2017 study found that people with significant mental illness seeking treatment and low-income groups from the general population both used social media at similar rates (about 70%).

Research Rationale

The increased popularity of social media use and its possible impact on psychological well-being serve as justification for doing a study on the subject. Understanding the potential consequences of social media use on outcomes for mental health is essential given the growing global use of social media (Luo & Hancock, 2020).

The growing concerns about mental health problems, such as anxiety, loneliness, and low self-esteem, among those who use social media frequently highlight the significance of this research topic (Liu et al., 2019). There is a need for a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the characteristics of social media usage that may contribute to the links between social media use and adverse mental health outcomes that have been observed in several research.

Research AimTo develop a comprehensive understanding of the positive and negative impacts of social media on the mental health and psychological well-being of people.

Research ObjectiveTo analyse the positive impacts of social media

To explore the influence of social media on the psychological well-being of people

To examine the factors which contribute to the adverse effects of social media on mental health.

To develop the recommendation through which people can take control of their mental health while being on social media.

Research Questions

Q1 What are the positive impacts of social media on the mental health and psychological well-being of people?

Q2 How does social media influence body image dissatisfaction and self-esteem in adolescents and young adults?

Q3 How does the presence of online harassment and cyberbullying on social media platforms impact individuals' mental health and well-being?

Q4 To what extent do privacy concerns and online social interactions influence the psychological well-being of social media users?

Q5 What are the recommendations through which mental health can be taken care of while being active on social media?

Literature Review

The study conducted by Viner et al., (2019) did a longitudinal study which is helpful in understanding the factors which affect mental health adversely like cyberbullying, physical activity, and sleep over time. The study is limited to young people but it is helpful in understanding the complex relationship between mental health and social media (Valkenburg et al., 2022). Karim et al. (2020) conducted a systematic study that discussed patterns and trends in the use of social media and its impact on mental health. Though the discussion is limited it is going to contribute to research about enhancing the understanding of the negative effects of social media (Abi-Jaoude et al., 2020).

Gaps in previous researchThe literature gap identified is that the use of social media and its long-term impact on mental health has not been studied yet. More studies are present on the impact on youth but there is a lack of studies on other populations like older people, individuals, and middle-aged people is there (Keles, et al., 2020).

Theoretical frameworkSocial Comparison Theory: According to this hypothesis, people evaluate themselves by contrasting their skills, personality traits, and life circumstances with those of others. Social media platforms offer many chances for social comparisons, which can affect people's self-esteem and perceptions of their bodies. Applying this theory can assist in examining how social comparisons on social media impact mental health outcomes, especially in terms of concerns and self-evaluations about one's appearance.

JustificationIt is a suitable theoretical framework for looking at how social media affects mental health since it focuses on how people judge themselves by comparing themselves to others. Social media platforms offer lots of chances for social comparisons, especially in terms of beauty, success, and way of life (Hudimova, 2021). It can be comprehended how these comparisons affect people's self-esteem, body image, and general well-being by using the Social Comparison Theory. This theoretical framework enables a thorough investigation of the ways in which social media use may have a detrimental impact on mental health outcomes, offering insightful information for interventions and tactics to encourage healthier online experiences.

ReferencesViner, R. M., Gireesh, A., Stiglic, N., Hudson, L. D., Goddings, A. L., Ward, J. L., & Nicholls, D. E. (2019). Roles of cyberbullying, sleep, and physical activity in mediating the effects of social media use on mental health and wellbeing among young people in England: a secondary analysis of longitudinal data.The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health,3(10), 685-696.

Liu, D., Baumeister, R. F., Yang, C. C., & Hu, B. (2019). Retracted: Digital Communication Media Use and Psychological Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis.Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication,24(5), 259-273.

Valkenburg, P. M., Meier, A., & Beyens, I. (2022). Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence.Current opinion in psychology,44, 58-68.

Abi-Jaoude, E., Naylor, K. T., & Pignatiello, A. (2020). Smartphones, social media use and youth mental health. Cmaj, 192(6), E136-E141.

Abbas, J., Wang, D., Su, Z., & Ziapour, A. (2021). The role of social media in the advent of COVID-19 pandemic: crisis management, mental health challenges and implications.Risk management and healthcare policy, 1917-1932.

Keles, B., McCrae, N., & Grealish, A. (2020). A systematic review: the influence of social media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents.International journal of adolescence and youth,25(1), 79-93.

Luo, M., & Hancock, J. T. (2020). Self-disclosure and social media: motivations, mechanisms and psychological well-being.Current opinion in psychology,31, 110-115.

Karim, F., Oyewande, A. A., Abdalla, L. F., Ehsanullah, R. C., & Khan, S. (2020). Social media use and its connection to mental health: a systematic review.Cureus,12(6).

Hudimova, A. K. (2021). PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND SOCIAL MEDIA USERSBEHAVIORAL ONLINE PATTERNS IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Naslund, J. A., Bondre, A., Torous, J., & Aschbrenner, K. A. (2020). Social media and mental health: benefits, risks, and opportunities for research and practice.Journal of technology in behavioral science,5, 245-257.