Social Media And Mental Health: Depression And Psychological Effects

Abstract

Social media has become firmly ingrained in societal dynamics, with the majority of individuals dedicating numerous hours daily to platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. While social media offers avenues for connection, entertainment, and information, a growing body of research suggests that its usage can have adverse effects on mental health. This research paper aims to examine the correlation between social media utilization and mental health among young adults. Existing studies suggest a link between heightened social media engagement and compromised mental well-being. Regrettably, the demographic of young adults, being the most prolific users of social media, faces an elevated susceptibility to mental health challenges, intensifying the pertinence of this association. The nature of the connection between social media and mental health remains ambiguous at this juncture.With the help of Systematic Literature Review (SLR), findings are compiled to assess the impact of social media utilization on depression and other psychological effects in adolescents. A comprehensive search across different databases yielded 20 studies for eligibility, with majority of them adopting a cross-sectional approach. Significant considerations arise due to the methodological constraints associated with cross-sectional design, sampling methodologies and measurement tools. Nonetheless, recommendations are offered for individuals, networking sites and society at large seeking to engage with social media in a manner conducive to psychological well-being, along with identified areas warranting additional research.

Keywords: Social media, mental health, depression, psychological effects, social networking sites