‭Malik‬‭1‬

‭Bibek Malik‬

‭Mr. Powers‬

‭English 1302‬

‭10 March 2024‬

‭Research Analysis on the Impact Social Media has on Mental Health‬

‭The debate about how social media affects mental health is complex and‬

‭multidimensional, involving a range of viewpoints and study techniques from different academic‬

‭fields. Through a comprehensive study of eight peer-reviewed journal publications, this analysis‬

‭attempts to provide a thorough look at the similar themes, differences, and important factors in‬

‭this subject. The nuanced exploration of these studies seeks to provide a holistic understanding‬

‭of the complex relationship between social media use and mental well-being.‬

‭The research undertaken by Bhaskara, Nagavaishnavi, et al. delves into the complex‬

‭relationship between social network media usage and the mental well-being of medical college‬

‭students in Bangalore, Karnataka. Through the analysis of precise data gathered from 318‬

‭students, the study shows how there is a relation between the amount of time spent on social‬

‭media platforms and the participants' mental well-being scores. This quantitative method reveals‬

‭a significant difference between students who use social media for four hours or more a day and‬

‭those who limit their screen time to under two hours a day. These findings have significant‬

‭ramifications since they suggest that excessive internet consumption may be linked to young‬

‭adults’ elevated stress levels and decreased mental health in general, especially in this context of‬

‭the applied pressure that comes with the setting of medical school. Additionally, in order to‬

‭promote real human relationships and lessen the negative impacts of digital dependency,‬

‭Bhaskara et al. discusses a reevaluation of society norms surrounding digital connectivity and‬
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‭advocates for a return to traditional forms of social contact. On the other hand, Fazian Bhatia and‬

‭Shika Walia’s study provides a detailed examination of the qualitative aspects of social media’s‬

‭impact on the mental health of college students. Their research explores how exposure to a‬

‭variety of digital content–from carefully curated social media feeds to interactive online‬

‭platforms–elicits subjective sensations and emotional reactions. Bhatia et al. shed light on the‬

‭intricate interactions that exist between social media use and people’s sense of identity‬

‭development, self-worth, and social comparison through in-depth interviews and thematic‬

‭analysis. Their results highlight how frequently digital media shapes consumers' psychological‬

‭well-being, showing how continuous exposure to idealized portrayals of success, looks, and‬

‭lifestyle can exacerbate pre existing mental health issues and foster feelings of inadequacy. By‬

‭delving into the qualitative nuances of social media usage, Bhatia and Walia complement the‬

‭quantitative insights provided by Bhaskara et al., providing a more comprehensive understanding‬

‭of the complex effects of digital technology on people’s mental health. While Bhatia and Walia’s‬

‭qualitative investigation adds to the scholarly conversation by examining the subjective aspects‬

‭of digital influence, Bhaskara, Nagavaishnavi, et al.’s primarily quantitative method investigates‬

‭the relationship between social media usage patterns and mental health outcomes. Both studies,‬

‭despite having different approaches, agree that excessive social media use has a negative impact‬

‭on people’s mental health. This emphasizes the urgent need for preventive measures and‬

‭educational programs to encourage better digital behaviors and build resilience against the‬

‭harmful effects of online interaction. Thus, the synthesis of these research perspectives offers‬

‭valuable insights into the complex dynamics of social media’s impact on mental health,‬

‭emphasizing the significance of collaborative research and comprehensive strategies when‬

‭addressing this health concern.‬

‭The research conducted by Gupta et al. provides valuable insights into the mental health‬

‭of young people during the transition from adolescence to adulthood, especially in light of the‬

‭COVID-19 lockdown. Their study highlights how social media affects adolescents’ identity and‬

‭self-esteem, stressing the need for specific interventions to improve mental health. Additionally,‬

‭the researchers also explore how social media could influence mental health policies and‬

‭advocacy efforts, highlighting the importance of addressing its negative impacts. Similarly,‬

‭research conducted in rural Punjab by Kaur et al. explores the complex dynamics of teenage‬

‭mental health, mainly focusing on anxiety caused by FOMO (fear of missing out) which is made‬

‭worse by social media. Their study emphasizes the need for culturally competent approaches to‬

‭address mental health issues in settings with limited resources, where access to mental health‬

‭care is often scarce. Additionally, they also look into the potential that technology-based‬

‭interventions could promote positive mental health outcomes among economically‬

‭disadvantaged populations. Furthermore, research conducted by Vu Anh Trong et al. regarding‬

‭Vietnamese adolescents sheds light on the negative associations between social media addiction,‬

‭FOMO, and mental health consequences. Their results express the need for comprehensive‬

‭approaches to mental health marketing and the need for culturally sensitive strategies in‬

‭addressing social media usage patterns. The importance of implementing effective strategies to‬

‭treat mental health difficulties among university students on social media is further reinforced by‬

‭Nazari, Abouzar, et al.’s cross-sectional study. In order to reduce the hazards linked with social‬

‭media usage, thir research emphasizes how critical it can be to give students strong coping‬

‭strategies and the support of their social networks. Essentially, even if these studies all address‬

‭the subject from various angles and situations, they all highlight the necessity of tailored‬

‭interventions and comprehensive strategies to address the adverse effects of social media on‬
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‭mental health in a range of demographics. Through their research, they all contribute valuable‬

‭insights regarding the intricate relationship between social media use and mental health‬

‭outcomes, highlighting the significance of addressing this issue in the current digital era.‬

‭In order to be able to provide insight on how society views mental and physical disorders,‬

‭Robinson and Patrick et al. undertook a study that looks into the prevalence of stigmatizing and‬

‭trivializing attitudes towards these conditions on Twitter. Their study emphasizes the widespread‬

‭stigma and trivialization of mental health issues, especially when it comes to mental health‬

‭disorders, and the urgency of taking proactive measures to combat these negative attitudes. Over‬

‭a 50-day period, the researchers used automated software to gather a massive volume of tweets‬

‭related to ten different health issues. They discovered that compared to physical health disorders,‬

‭mental health conditions were more stigmatized and trivialized, with schizophrenia and‬

‭obsessive-compulsive disorder being among the most stigmatized and trivialized, respectively.‬

‭The qualitative analysis also demonstrated the several ways that stigma and trivialization appear‬

‭on social media, such as mocking, using derogatory descriptions, and wishing ill upon someone.‬

‭This study highlights the value of using social media as a tool to measure public perceptions of‬

‭mental health and the necessity of focused efforts to counteract stigma and trivialization. The‬

‭research sheds light on the nature and frequency of these beliefs, which will be helpful in‬

‭shaping future anti-stigma initiatives and creating plans to encourage more positive views of‬

‭mental health issues.‬

‭In conclusion, this compilation of research articles provides a thorough examination of‬

‭the complex relationship between social media and mental health. This investigation contributes‬

‭to current global efforts to address the mental health concerns connected with social media usage‬

‭by clarifying complex themes, disparities, and critical perspectives. Even in the era of absolute‬
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‭digital dominance, the prioritization of well-being remains crucial, emphasizing the need for‬

‭continued research and intervention in order to promote positive mental health outcomes in the‬

‭digital age.‬
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‭Works Cited‬

‭Bhaskara, Nagavaishnavi, et al. "The Effect of Social Media Usage on the Mental‬

‭Well-being of Medical College Students in Bangalore, Karnataka." Journal of Family Medicine‬

‭& Primary Care, vol. 9, no. 11, Nov. 2020, pp. 5731-5735.‬

‭Fazian Bhatia and Shikha Walia. "The mental health toll of the social media scroll." UBC‬

‭Medical Journal, vol. 14, no. 2, Spring 2023, pp. 18-19.‬

‭Dam, Vu Anh Trong, et al. "Quality of Life and Mental Health of Adolescents:‬

‭Relationships with Social Media Addiction, Fear of Missing out, and Stress Associated with‬

‭Neglect and Negative Reactions by Online Peers." PLoS ONE, vol. 17, no. 6, 2023, pp. 1-15.‬

‭Gupta, Ravinder K., Aakriti Khajuria, and Urvi Gupta. "Adolescence, Social Media and‬

‭Mental Health." JK Science: Journal of Medical Education & Research, vol. 25, no. 4, Oct-Dec‬

‭2023, pp. 199-200.‬

‭Kaur, S., Kaur, K., Aprajita, M., Verma, R., & Pankaj, P. "Impact of Social Media on‬

‭Mental Health of Adolescents." Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results, Volume 13, Special‬

‭Issue 5, 2022, pp. 116-120.‬

‭Nazari, Abouzar, et al. "The Impact of Social Media Use on Students' Mental Health: A‬

‭Cross-Sectional Study." Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 24, no. 2, 2022, pp. 1-11.‬

‭Robinson, Patrick, et al. "Measuring Attitudes Towards Mental Health Using Social‬

‭Media: Investigating Stigma and Trivialisation." Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology,‬

‭vol. 54, no. 1, Jan. 2019, pp. 1-15.‬