Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Nursing
Committee Chair
Robin Bartlett
Committee Member
Jennifer Bail
Committee Member
Ann Bianchi
Committee Member
Kathleen Delaney
Committee Member
Monika Wedgeworth
Research Advisor
Robin Bartlett
Subject(s)
Young adults--Mental health, Social media, Social media addiction, Social media and teenagers
Abstract
Rates of mental health difficulties have risen drastically in recent years. Transition-aged youth (TAY) ages 18-24 years old represent a vulnerable population at risk for poor mental health outcomes, with depression and anxiety diagnoses increasing faster than any other age group. While the cause for this upsurge is multifaceted, these trends have occurred concurrently with the increasing popularity of social media (SM) platforms. Current evidence presents contradictory findings as to the impact of SM platforms on mental health, revealing a critical gap in knowledge. This study addresses this gap by exploring how TAY perceive their use of SM platforms and its impact on their mental health. Supported by the Social Support Theory and the Hurtful Communication Theory, a qualitative, interpretative phenomenological study was designed to explore the perceptions of TAY with diagnosed mental health disorders. A sample population of 10 TAY living in Alabama were recruited. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted. Using thematic analysis, five themes emerged: sharing to find a supportive community; acknowledging negative influences on mental wellness; disengaging through passive use; creating distance to achieve wellness; and internalizing stigma. Study results revealed TAY perceive both positive and negative influences on their mental health. TAY perceive SM platforms as fostering a sense of community based on shared interests and as a critical source of entertainment. They also consider SM platforms to be harmful, increasing stress and anxiety, encouraging them to argue with other users, and inspiring social comparisons. However, TAY overall believe the benefits of SM platforms outweigh the negatives, and report no intention to stop or decrease use. Findings from this study increase our understanding of how TAY perceive their social media use and its impact on their mental health, revealing new outlooks on mental health promotion and maintenance strategies currently used. This study is beneficial to nurses, identifying potential risks to physical and mental health, and a prevailing stigma that may influence TAY’s decision to seek care. Societal impacts of stunted development and political avoidance are also discussed. Future studies are needed to determine the generalizability of these findings.
Recommended Citation
Niles, Lauren L., "Transition-aged youth perspectives on social media use behaviors and mental health: a qualitative study" (2024). Dissertations. 424.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-dissertations/424
Comments
Submitted ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the joint Nursing Science Ph.D. Program.