SEMESTER 2 2022/2023

PBF2074 RESEARCH METHODS FOR COMMUNICATION

ASSESSMENT 1 : PAIR ASSIGNMENT – LITERATURE REVIEW (20%)

THEME : NEW MEDIA AND MENTAL WELL-BEING

LECTURER NAME : DR. JAMILAH BINTI MALIKI

NAME MATRIC NUMBER

SUBHATRA A/P SAHTIYA MURTHI 81293
VALAR MATHI A/P NADARAJA 82295
Current Issue 1:
The impact of social media on the human mind has become a major source of concern. The
scholarly research has yielded varied results; some announce harmful effects such as anxiety
and despair, while others exalt the joys of social connection. However, the important function
of age in determining this nexus is cloaked in mystery and necessitates extensive research.
Purpose of Research:
The primary goal of this investigation is to investigate the relationship between age and the
impact of social media on the human psych to determine whether age has a significant
moderating influence on mental well-being.
Theory Used in the Issue Discussed:
To explain the link between social media use and mental health, several theoretical
frameworks have been presented. People tend to compare themselves to others on social
media, according to the social comparison hypothesis, which can lead to feelings of
inadequacy and low self-esteem. Social media use, according to the self-determination theory,
can meet basic human needs for relatedness, autonomy, and competence, which can have a
positive impact on well-being. Furthermore, social media use, according to cognitive
behavioural theory, can modify one's ideas, feelings, and behaviours, which can either
promote or hinder mental health.
Method Used in the Study Discussed:
An online survey was completed by 501 participants (ages 18 to 65) that included measures
of social media use (frequency and duration), mental well-being (stress, anxiety, and
depression), and demographic factors (age, gender, and education). The moderating influence
of age on the link between social media use and mental well-being was investigated using
multiple regression models.
Findings and Discussion:
According to the study's findings, age moderates the relationship between social media use
and mental well-being. Social media use was found to be positively associated with stress,
anxiety, and depression in younger people (ages 18 to 30), but negatively associated with the
same outcomes in older adults (ages 51 to 65). According to the study, depending on an
individual's developmental stage, social media use may have various consequences on mental
well-being. The findings support the socioemotional selectivity theory, which claims that as
people age, they become more selective in their social interactions and gravitate towards
emotionally significant relationships. The impact of social media on mental health is
influenced by age. It enhances social bonds in older persons while causing anxiety in younger
adults. The importance of age in the relationship between social media and well-being is
emphasised in this study.
Current Issue 2:
Social media has an impact on students' mental health, both positively and negatively. Its
popularity among teenagers has resulted in community building and self-expression, as well
as cyberbullying, social comparison, and addiction. These negative impacts contribute to an
increase in the prevalence of sadness, anxiety, and other mental health problems.
Purpose of Research:
The purpose of this study is to look at existing research on the impact of social media on
student mental health. This review will focus on the theories used to explain the relationship
between social media and mental health, the methodology utilised in research on this topic,
and the findings and discussions of studies that have investigated this relationship.
Theory Used in the Issue Discussed:
Theoretical frameworks such as social comparison theory and self-determination theory help
explain the relationship between social media use and mental health. Social comparison can
contribute to low self-esteem, whereas social media can meet basic demands for autonomy,
competence, and relatedness. However, peer pressure and cyberbullying can also undermine
these needs.
Method Used in the Study Discussed:
Surveys, interviews, and experiments have been utilised in research on the impact of social
media on students' mental health. Surveys examine the frequency and intensity of social
media use, as well as mental health effects. Interviews delve into subjective experiences and
the factors that influence the relationship. Experiments are used to investigate causal ideas,
such as restricting social media use to minimise depressive symptoms.
Findings and Discussion:
The impact of social media on student mental health is complex, with inconsistent results.
Social media can have beneficial impacts such as self-esteem and support, but it can also
have negative effects such as depression and anxiety. Individual factors such as age and
personality can influence outcomes, as can the type of platform, content, and motives for use.
More research is needed to fully comprehend the link between social media use and mental
health.
Current Issue 3:
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the mental health of college
students, with social media playing a multifaceted role. While it might be helpful, it can also
amplify negative emotions. Understanding its consequences is critical for fostering effective
coping methods and managing mental health issues.
Purpose of Research:
The purpose of this review is to investigate the impact of social media on college mental
health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The review will include hypotheses, techniques,
findings, and discussions from studies that have investigated this link. Understanding this
effect is critical for developing effective coping methods and managing mental health issues.
Theory Used in the Issue Discussed:
In short, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the stress and coping theory and the social support
theory were utilised to describe the relationship between social media and mental health.
According to the stress and coping theory, social media can be used as a coping method,
however the social support theory emphasises the importance of social relationships and the
potential negative impacts of social media.
Method Used in the Study Discussed:
Surveys, interviews, and content analysis were employed in studies on the impact of social
media on college mental health during the COVID-19 epidemic. Surveys have been used to
measure mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as the
frequency and intensity of social media use. Interviews were utilised to investigate the
subjective experiences of pandemic social media use and to discover factors that may
regulate the association between social media and mental health. The types of information
and emotional content communicated on social media during the pandemic have been
examined using content analysis.
Findings and Discussion:
The impact of social media on college students' mental health during the COVID-19
pandemic is a puzzling and ambiguous subject that requires attention. During the pandemic,
theoretical frameworks like as the stress and coping theory and the social support theory were
used to explicate the complex interplay between social media use and mental health. The
empirical findings, however, are far from clear, indicating that the quality of social
relationships, the type of social media platform used, and other contextual factors can all
dramatically alter this association. Given the importance of this topic, further study is
urgently needed to elucidate the complex mechanisms underlying the influence of social
media on college mental health during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Current Issue 4 :
Adolescents and even young children now live mostly through digital media, which may have
an impact on both their well-being and social interactions. The offline social network of
children, which includes their parents and friends, was strongly and favourably associated
with wellbeing and may therefore serve as a buffer against potentially negative internet
experiences.
Purpose of Research :
The purpose of this study is to examine the connection between children's digital media use
and psychological wellbeing in children aged 9 to 12. This review will also explain the
function of social networks, both online and off, in the relationship between the usage of
digital media and psychological health with a focus on children who have a Facebook page,
and more particularly, whether Facebook use is associated with psychological well-being in
this particular set of children.
Theory Used in the Issue Discussed:
The goal of the current review was to gain a more complete understanding on how children
between the ages of 9 and 12 use sophisticated media. In a significant example, they looked
into the extent to which these kids engage in online and disconnected social relationships and
use computerised media. The main issue at hand is whether or not their consumption of
contemporary media encourages mental wellness.
Method Used in the Study Discussed:
13, 871 special education students completed an online questionnaire, test protocols, and a
template letter asking parents to sign off on the test. The Welfare and Health Department of
the Province of Antwerp collected data on the registration for participation. Additionally,
some extra questions in accordance with the Facebook Intensity Scale were asked in order to
evaluate respondents' Facebook usage.
Findings and Discussion:
We have no reason to think that utilising digital media negatively affects psychological
health, at least not right away. In light of this, it follows that, at least for children of this age,
claims like "screen use makes children (un)happy" are untrue. Of course, this result does not
indicate that there is no impact at all. Because of the cross-sectional nature of this study, we
are unaware of the long-term consequences of utilising digital media. The way that kids
currently interact with these media could have an impact on how they utilise them in the
future. This could have either a beneficial or a negative effect.
Current Issue 5 :
As social media use has grown, worries about its possible impact on users' psychological
health have risen. The literature offers conflicting indicators on how social media affects
users' well-being, highlighting both the potential drawbacks and societal benefits it may
provide. This study makes the case that it is urgently necessary to understand the influence of
social media use on users' psychological well-being, specifically by taking into account other
factors that mediate and further explain this effect.
Purpose of Research :
The goal of this review is to add to the body of knowledge already available about how social
media use has an impact on psychological health. It also explores the conflicting evidence
offered by various approaches and offers suggestions on how to lessen the potentially harmful
effects of social media use because it demonstrates how social capital may be bridged and
bonded through the use of social media to improve psychological well-being.
Theory Used in the Issue Discussed:
The results of this study add to the body of knowledge by demonstrating the need for a more
sophisticated approach that specifically considers social media's indirect impact on
psychological health as well as by providing evidence to corroborate the links suggested by
earlier studies. Therefore, this study serves as a foundation for subsequent research trying to
comprehend the effects of social media use and to identify strategies to lessen any potential
adverse effects.
Method Used in the Study Discussed:
Students from Mexican universities were chosen at random for this study because they are
thought to be the most suitable sample for e-commerce studies, particularly in the context of
social media, and because they are known to be heavy smartphone users. In addition, a
quantitative empirical investigation was conducted using an online survey method to test the
model. Online surveys are recognised as a quick, simple, and less expensive way to gather
data as well as a powerful and trustworthy tool for new research.
Findings and Discussion:
The results demonstrated that social media use had a considerable and advantageous impact
on psychological well-being through the building and strengthening of social capital.
However, it was also discovered that social media use has a major and detrimental impact on
psychological health through smartphone addiction and social isolation. This study provides
information that can help reconcile inconsistencies in the literature that suggest both good
and negative effects of social media use on psychological well-being. Despite some indirect
detrimental impacts, this analysis suggests that the overall impact is good.
Current Issue 6 :
As they strive to achieve their academic goals, college students must overcome a number of
challenges. Such encounters can negatively impact students' wellbeing if they are viewed as
negative over an extended period of time. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has noted that,
in addition to having an impact on one's personal health, mental health problems can have a
direct connection to violent episodes on college campuses.
Purpose of Research :
This review essentially centers around creating and approving an AI technique to distinguish
understudy psychological well-being articulations in web-based networks outfitted towards
grounds, breaking down the phonetic and worldly qualities of the previously mentioned
deduced understudy emotional well-being articulations in different college grounds, fostering
a list of aggregate mental prosperity in a grounds, and looking at its relationship to
characteristics of the college, including scholastic readiness.
Theory Used in the Issue Discussed :
Although these techniques are rarely used in real practise, the literature places a high priority
on systems for collaborative assessment of mental health disorders in college populations. We
believe that by offering a campus-wide measure of mental health derived from passively
gathered student social media data, our study helps close this gap. The findings indicate that
by using this kind of measurement, we can gain both new and previously undiscovered
insights on students' mental health in various universities and student populations.
Method Used in the Study Discussed :
This research combines Reddit articles from several mental health support communities as
actual data. Previous studies have shown that people in these communities explicitly self-
disclose a wide range of mental health difficulties. In addition, the researchers use a different
collection of Reddit posts as a control, posted on general subreddits unrelated to mental
health. The next step is to create a machine learning classifier that can differentiate between
these two categories of posts. After that, they study characteristics that could determine if a
post shared on a university subreddit might be an indication of a mental health risk.
Findings and Discussion :
Online social networks are being used by many college students to disclose their mental
health conditions and find support. Using student-focused Reddit communities from more
than 100 colleges, they created and tested a transfer learning-based classification system that
can recognise mental health expressions with 97% accuracy. They later created a Mental
Well-being Index (MWI) based on this classifier to assess the overall mental health of more
than 100 US university campuses. The association between different characteristics of the
universities and their student bodies and MWI was then demonstrated. They think their
findings can help technology designers address issues with mental health in college
populations.
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