An Empirical Study Exploring the Psychological Impacts of Social Media Usage among Adults
Nawas Abubakar
*
Department of Communication Studies, Texas Tech University, USA.
Sandra Frimpong
School of Media and Communications, Bowling Green State University, USA.
Obiageri Ihuarulam Okeoma
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Chinedu Nwosu-Ijiomah
Department of Health Informatics, School of Computing, University of West London, UK.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Social media has become an integral part of daily life, influencing how adults communicate, seek information, and construct identities. However, there is growing concern about its psychological effects, especially regarding anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and sleep patterns. While substantial research has focused on adolescents, the impact of social media on adults' mental health remains under-explored.
Objective: This study aims to address this gap by examining the psychological effects of social media use among adults, with particular attention to how different usage patterns—active engagement versus passive consumption—affect mental well-being.
Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 188 adult participants. Data were collected through an online questionnaire that assessed demographics, social media usage patterns, and psychological well-being (including anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and sleep disruption). Regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between social media usage and mental health outcomes, controlling for demographic variables.
Findings: The study found that while the amount of time spent on social media did not significantly affect anxiety, depression, self-esteem, or sleep disruption, social comparison was significantly associated with higher anxiety and depressive symptoms. FoMO also showed a trend toward increased anxiety, though not statistically significant. Additionally, passive social media consumption was linked to lower self-esteem, and both age and employment status were positively correlated with self-esteem. There were no significant relationships between social media use and sleep disruption.
Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of understanding engagement patterns and internal psychological processes in the context of social media use. Future interventions should consider digital behavior patterns, promoting balanced engagement and mitigating the negative effects of comparison and FoMO. Further longitudinal studies are needed to establish causal relationships and explore long-term effects.
Keywords: Social media, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, sleep disruption, social comparison, mental health