Assessing the Impact of Social Media usage on Mental Health Outcomes among Adolescents Globally

Abstract

Background:The prevalence of social media in youth has become a worldwide issue, and possible consequences of social media on mental health, such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem and sleep, have been noted. Objective: The research aims to gain a deeper insight into the impact of social media use on the mental well-being of the youth and what influences mental well-being in diverse areas. Methodology: Multi-method approach was taken which comprised of a survey of 200 adolescents (13-19 years old) and semi-structured interviews. The statistical tests were done using correlation and regression which were supplemented with qualitative information. Findings: We discovered that there is a high positive relationship between high use of social media, anxiety and depression (r = 0.68, p < 0.05). Moderate use and excessive use were found to affect social connectedness neutrally or positively and negatively, respectively; although, poorer sleep quality was noted with excessive use. Conclusion: The study on the whole finds that the positive effect of high use of social media on the mental health of adolescents is not positive. Well-being must be increased with digital literacy, responsible consumption, and regulatory measures.