The Role of Social Media Usage in Increasing Depression and Anxiety among Young Adults
| Vol-1 | Issue-6 | June 2016 | Published Online: 15 June 2016 PDF | ||
| Author(s) | ||
| Ramagya Singh 1 | ||
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1Assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Ramgarh College, Ramgarh |
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| Abstract | ||
| The fast growth of social media like Instagram and Facebook has radically altered the communication patterns of young adults so that the digital interaction is become an inseparable part of everyday life. Although these platforms have led to connectivity, self-expression, and sharing of information, excessive and uncontrolled use of these platforms has increasingly been linked to adverse mental health conditions especially anxiety and depression. The young adults are particularly susceptible to it because of the continuous emotional and psychological development. The mechanisms that are noted in this research to be of significant contribution to psychological distress include social comparison, fear of missing out (FOMO), cyberbullying, passive browsing, and sleep disruption. Empirical results as of 2014 confirm that regular use of social media, as opposed to length of time, is a more effective predictor of mental health problems. The more people are exposed to idealized content online, the more they develop low self-esteem, loneliness, and dissatisfaction towards their lives. Also, the increase in the rates of depression among adolescents at this time can be attributed to the general influence of digital interaction in society. The results highlight the importance of awareness and responsible use and the promotion of healthy digital habits. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Social Media, Mental Health, Depression, Anxiety, FOMO, Cyberbullying, Young Adults, Social Comparison | ||
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