Date

5-1-2025

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Abigail Hill

Keywords

social media, depression, mental health, mood, motives

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

In today's world, where technology is advancing at an exponential rate, social media has become an indispensable part of the lives of young people. Research on the relationship between social media use and mental health has yielded mixed results, with some studies emphasizing its benefits while others highlight its negative impacts. To delve deeper into this phenomenon, this quantitative correlational study aimed to conduct a comprehensive study of the relationship between social media use and mental health, specifically depressive symptoms, among young adults. To contribute to the theoretical framework, the study consisted of an online survey (N=182) that assessed motives for social media use and depressive symptoms. In terms of motives for social media use, the presence of depressive symptoms was positively correlated with passing time and fear of missing out related behaviors but negatively correlated with social integration. Additionally, a significant difference in depressive symptoms related to gender was observed. Understanding how young adults use social media and how it affects their well-being is crucial for informing professionals, policymakers, and religious leaders in their efforts to address mental health and social challenges faced by this demographic.

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