Investigating the Impact of Social Media on Mental Health among

Adolescents

Abstract

Social media has become an integral part of the lives of adolescents, but its
impact on mental health remains a subject of debate. This study aims to
investigate the impact of social media on mental health among adolescents. A
cross-sectional survey was conducted with 500 adolescents between the ages of
13 and 18 years. The survey measured social media use, mental health status,
and perceived social support. The results showed a significant positive
correlation between social media use and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
However, perceived social support mediated this relationship, suggesting that
social media use may not be inherently detrimental to mental health among
adolescents.

Introduction

Adolescence is a critical period of development marked by significant changes

in social, emotional, and cognitive domains. Social media has become a
ubiquitous part of the lives of adolescents, with over 90% of teenagers using at
least one social media platform. While social media has many benefits,
including social connection and self-expression, it has also been associated with
negative outcomes, such as cyberbullying, body image issues, and mental health
problems. The relationship between social media use and mental health among
adolescents is complex and remains a subject of debate.

Method

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 500 adolescents between the ages
of 13 and 18 years. Participants were recruited from high schools in the United
States. The survey included measures of social media use, mental health status,
and perceived social support. Social media use was measured using a self-report
questionnaire that assessed the frequency and duration of social media use.
Mental health status was measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress
Scale, which assesses symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Perceived
social support was measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived
Social Support, which assesses perceived support from family, friends, and
significant others.

Results

The results showed a significant positive correlation between social media use
and symptoms of depression (r=0.21, p<0.001) and anxiety (r=0.18, p<0.001).
However, perceived social support mediated the relationship between social
media use and mental health outcomes, suggesting that social media use may
not be inherently detrimental to mental health among adolescents. Specifically,
the relationship between social media use and symptoms of depression and
anxiety was weaker among adolescents who reported higher levels of perceived
social support.

Discussion

The findings of this study suggest that social media use is associated with
symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents. However, the
relationship between social media use and mental health outcomes is complex
and mediated by perceived social support. These results have implications for
interventions aimed at promoting positive mental health among adolescents who
use social media. Interventions that focus on enhancing perceived social support
may help mitigate the negative effects of social media use on mental health
among adolescents. Additionally, future research should investigate the specific
aspects of social media use that contribute to negative mental health outcomes,
as well as the factors that protect against these outcomes.