Thesis Abstract

Abstract
This research project aimed to investigate the impact of social media on young adults' mental health. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and interviews to gather data from a sample of 300 participants aged 18-25. The surveys focused on participants' social media usage patterns, mental health indicators, and self-reported well-being, while the interviews provided in-depth insights into participants' experiences and perceptions. The findings revealed a complex relationship between social media use and mental health outcomes among young adults. While a majority of participants reported using social media platforms daily, a significant portion also expressed feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and dissatisfaction with their lives. Interestingly, participants who spent more time on social media exhibited higher levels of stress and lower self-esteem compared to those who used these platforms less frequently. Moreover, the qualitative data from the interviews highlighted various ways in which social media impacted young adults' mental health. Participants described feelings of inadequacy when comparing themselves to others on social media, as well as the pressure to maintain a certain image online. Many also discussed the role of social media in fostering negative emotions such as jealousy and FOMO (fear of missing out). Despite these negative associations, some participants also acknowledged the positive aspects of social media, such as staying connected with friends and accessing support networks. However, the overall consensus indicated that social media use had a mixed impact on young adults' mental well-being, with both positive and negative consequences. In conclusion, this research project sheds light on the complex interplay between social media and mental health among young adults. The findings suggest that while social media can offer various benefits in terms of social connectivity and information sharing, it also poses risks to mental well-being, particularly in terms of fostering negative emotions and comparisons. Future studies should further explore these dynamics and consider interventions to promote healthy social media use among young adults.

Thesis Overview