THE IMPACTS OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES USAGE ON COLLEGE STUDENTS

DEPRESSION

Conceptualization by

Ma. Veronica V. Galvez

BSPSY- A-NSTEM3

March 16, 2023

Chapter 1
 Problem and Its Background

Social media has transformed the landscape of human interaction and communication in

unprecedented ways, marking a paradigm shift in the way individuals connect, share

information, and engage with the world. The term "social media" encompasses a diverse range of

online platforms designed to facilitate collaboration, connecting people globally (Rath, 2018),

community's association and interconnecting across cultures (Radwan, 2022). These platforms,

which include but are not limited to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, have become

integral parts of daily life for millions across the globe.

According to the Datareportal January 2024 global overview, 5.04 billion people around

the world now use social media. This means that more than half of the world now uses social

media (62.3%). The Philippines has witnessed a surge in social media usage, particularly during

the COVID-19 pandemic, where 82.4% of the population, totaling 92.05 million people, are

reported to have social media accounts (Meltwater, 2022).

The pandemic forced schools and universities to shift to distance education, making

social media a significant platform for teaching and learning resources. As traditional classrooms

closed, teachers and students increasingly turned to digital platforms such as Zoom, Google

Meet, Facebook, messenger etc. Social media emerged as a crucial supplementary tool, fostering

virtual classrooms, facilitating communication, and providing a platform to communicate with

their students to foster online learning (Manca, 2020).

As college students, shared pandemic-related experiences, developed virtual

relationships, fostering hope, social satisfaction, and psychological relief (Toquero &

Talindong, 2020). Social media also emerged as a crucial outlet for seeking mental health
support, enabling students to vent and disclose feelings in an informal, semi-anonymous setting,

ultimately reducing the negative impacts of mental illness (Vornholt et al, 2021). Social media

has been identified as a moderator, strengthening the link between its use and mental health, with

strategies like optimism and cognitive reappraisal mitigating negative impacts (Haddad et al,

2021)

Conversely, studies suggest that social media exposure may contribute to psychological

distress (Zhen et al, 2020). University students, facing prevalent psychological issues like

anxiety and depression, experience worsening rates of low self-esteem, loneliness, stress,

substance misuse, and suicidality (Aylie et al., 2020). The nature of social media use, rather than

duration, may influence symptoms of depression, with social comparison and rumination acting

as mediators (Baker et al, 2016). In addition, increased in social media usage correlates with

higher levels of depression and anxiety among adolescents (Twenge et al, 2022). Anxiousness

and being highly active on social media, the frequency of usage, time spent, and the number of

social networking sites, all had a huge impact in mental health in terms of depression and anxiety

(Rajesh & Priya, 2020).

College students encounter both positive and negative consequences from their use of

social media. The impact on mental health is related to social media usage, where reflective use

can improves mental health while problematic use deters mental health (Cleofas et al, 2022). On

a positive note, social media can aid in managing stress (Ngien & Jiang, 2022) , offering

emotional support (Gilmour, et al, 2020) , fostering community (Marino, 2018), facilitating

self-expression (Bailey, et al, 2020) and establishing relationships. Excessive usage is associated

with compromised sleep quality (Sadgheyani, 2021), increase stress levels (Tan, et al, 2021),

deterioration in mental health (Braghieri, 2022) and common mental health outcomes like
anxiety, depression, and psychological distress (Alonzo, 2021). Despite numerous studies on

social media's impact on mental health, there is limited understanding of how social media

exposure specifically affects the mental health of Filipino college students after the COVID-19

pandemic (Thomas et al., 2022).

Mental health on universities is a matter of growing concern as an increasing number of

college students show rising levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal attempt. This study aims

to identify the impact of social media usage on college students' mental health to better

understand their needs and provide appropriate mental health interventions.

The research aims to determine the impact of Social Networking Sites (SNS) usage in

college students psychological distress such as depression of Centro Escolar University Malolos

during the 2nd Semester of academic year 2023-2024.

Method:

The method applied in this research study would be a questionnaire.

Research Design:

The research design of this study would be descriptive research design.

Specifically, the present study aims to answer the following questions:

1. What social networking sites (SNS) do college students use?

2. How often do college students use social networking sites?

3. What are the respondents' interest towards using social networking sites?

4. What is the level of depression of each respondent based on PHQ-9 ?

5. Are there significant relationships among gender, usage of social networking sites

and depression of college students?

Null Hypothesis:

● Increased usage of social networking sites among college students will leads to a

significant reduction in the prevalence and severity of depression symptoms.

 Increased usage of social networking sites among college students will lead to a

significant increase in the prevalence and severity of depression symptoms.

Activity 1

Title Author and Problem Variables Participants Results Limitations and

social media use and its .Karim F, Summarizes the social media No Potential causal factors Given the evidence
connection to mental Oyewande A, effects of social use and mental participants from social media can from cross-sectional
health: a systematic Abdalla LF, network usage on health (This is a be considered when studies, it is not
review. Cureus Ehsanullah mental health systematic cooperating with possible to conclude
RC, Khan S, review of patients who have been that the use of social
(2020) previous diagnosed with anxiety networks causes
research or depression. mental health
articles) problems.

2.The Relationship Baker D. & Examines Social No Suggests a relationship Due to the high
Between Online Social Algorta G, quantitative studies Networking participants between online social prevalence of cross
Networking and (2016) focused on and (This study networking and sectional studies, it is
Depression: A the relationship Depression is a depression, influenced not possible to
Systematic Review of between online systematic by a number of determine causation
Quantitative Studies social networking review of mediating and
and symptoms of empirical moderating factors.
depression. studies)

3.Social media for Ahmed, Y. A., The aim of this Social media No The systematic review The literature search of
knowledge-sharing: a Ahmad, M. N., paper is to provide and participants indicated that, Social this review was out
systematic literature Ahmad, N., & a better knowledge- (It is a media is increasingly only papers published
review. Telematics and Zakaria, N. H. understanding, and sharing systematic used for Knowledge in the from 2010 to
Informatics, (2019). a detailed review, review Sharing 2016, future research
of the current state approach to should be considered
of research collect and in recently published
regarding social synthesize social media for
media use for data knowledge sharing
knowledge sharing. regarding studies.
the accuracy
and value of
previous
articles
focused on
this research
field)

4.Investigating the role Hassan This study aims to Social media No The findings showed Only examined the
of social media on Ebrahimpour determine the role and Mental participants that social media has effects of social media
mental health Sadagheyani, of social media on Health (This study negative and positive on mental
 Farin Tatari, mental health. is a review effects on mental health, it is suggested
2021 of 501 health. that the effects of
articles social media on other
regarding aspects of health be
the effects of considered.
social media
to mental
health)

5.Effect of social media Radwan, M, Recognize the Social Media 360 Two-fifths of the It has been conducted
usage on the cultural (2022). effect of social and usage on respondents respondents, the level on just 360
identity of rural people: media on some the cultural from rural of change in cultural respondents. It would
a case study of Bamha components of identity of people in identity was high in be helpful to interview
village, Egypt. Humanit rural people’s rural people Bamha relation to their use of or survey more people
cultural identity. village, social media and there in order to have a
Egypt. is a significant better perception of the
relationship between connection between
independent variables social media utilization
of respondents and the and cultural identity.
degree of change in
their cultural identity.

6.Social Media for Joosten, T. Straightforward Social Media No Individuals use social No limitations
Educators: Strategies (2012) discussion of the respondents media for many mentioned
and Best Practices pedagogical reasons, including
reasons to use entertainment,
social media, and communication, and
how to effectively searching for
use the tools to information.
enhance learning
experiences.

7.Predictive factors of Zhen R, Zhou Examine the Public anxiety Self- Results indicate that No limitations
public anxiety under the X. (2020) prevalence and and COVID- reported COVID-19 epidemic mentioned
outbreak of COVID-19. predictors of public 19 questionnair experiences, the time
Chinese Journal of anxiety under the es were used and valence of media
Applied Psychology outbreak of the to exposure to COVID-
2019 coronavirus investigate 19-related information,
disease (COVID- 1050 people and risk perception of
19). the during this disease are
COVID-19 important predictors of
outbreak public anxiety.

8.Undergraduate Gibbons S, Study student Mental health 822 Electronic newsletters, Limitation of this
students survey their Trette-McLean perspectives about undergradua social media, and on- study was
peers on mental health: T, Crandall A, college mental te and campus seminars were that there were only a
Perspectives and Bingham JL, health including the graduate the top strategies that small number of
strategies for improving Garn CL, Cox, primary mental students students suggested as graduate student
college counseling JC.2019 health issues enrolled in a ways to reach them participants.
center outreach. affecting students, private
common college university.
student stressors,
student awareness
of campus mental
health resources,
 and mental health
topics.

9.Impact of post- Waseem M, Determine post-traumatic Questionnair The severity of post- No limitations
traumatic stress of Aziz N, Arif frequency of post- stress and e was traumatic stress is quite mentioned
COVID-19 on the M, Noor A, traumatic stress Covid-19 distributed evident in all the
mental well-being of Mustafa M, among with the use MBBS students
undergraduate medical Khalid Z, undergraduate of Whatsapp generally while in
students in Pakistan. (2020) medical students in messenger female students
Pakistan due to to 450 specifically in our
COVID-19. students. study.

10. The psychological Aylie NS, Assess the Psychological University This study revealed a Since the data were
impacts of COVID-19 Mekonen MA, psychological impacts and students in higher prevalence of collected by phone call
pandemic among Mekuria RM. impacts of COVID- Covid-19 Bench- depression, anxiety, the respondents may
university students in (2020) 19 pandemic Sheko Zone, and stress among not provide accurate
Bench-Sheko zone, among university South-west, university students. information for the
South-west Ethiopia students in Bench- Ethiopia, study, which may have
Sheko Zone, South- an effect on the
west, Ethiopia, findings of this study.
2020.

11.. Social Media Meltwater Determine the Social media Filipino Survey on social media No limitations
Statistics in the (2023) population rate of citizens who usage in the mentioned
Philippines, social media usage use social Philippines in 2022,
in the Philippines media 82.4% of the total
population of the
Philippines has a social
media account.

12. IMPACT OF Rajesh D, The study was Mental health A More usage of social No limitations
SOCIAL MEDIA ON Priya K,(2020) conducted to and social descriptive media, the number of mentioned
MENTAL HEALTH OF examine the media study was SNS and too much
STUDENTS, impact of social conducted time spent on social
media on student’s among top 2 networking sites is
mental health deemed affecting the student's
issues. universities mental health such as
in Chennai depression and anxiety.
with a
sample of 90
respondents.

13. Social Media and Levy R, Estimates of the Social Media US college Social media might be No limitations
Mental Health Makarin A, impact of social and Mental students partly responsible for mentioned
Braghieri, L, media on mental Health the recent deterioration
(2022) health by in mental health among
leveraging a unique teenagers and
natural experiment young adults

14.. Understanding the Vornholt P & Examine whether Social Media Conducted a Students recognized No limitations
Role of Social Media– Choudhury M, and how these Mental health survey the benefits of social mentioned
Based Mental Health (2021) platforms may help support among 101 media in helping
Support Among College meet college US college connect with peers on
Students: Survey and students’ mental students campus and promoting
Semistructured health needs. informal and candid
Interviews, disclosures.

15.. The Impact of Haddad J, Seek the Social media No Prior studies have Future studies should
Social Media on College Macenski C, relationship and college participants found mixed results consider the impact of
Mental Health During Mills A, between social mental health (This study regarding the social media on
the COVID‐19 Hibara A, media use and is a review relationship between college student mental
Pandemic: a Kester K, college student of previous social media use and health and concentrate
Multinational Review of Schneider M, mental health research college student mental on intervention
the Existing Literature, Conrad R, Liu during the COVID- articles) health. initiatives to ensure the
C,(2021) 19 pandemic psychological well-
being of college
students during a
global pandemic
outbreak.

16.Socio-educational Toquero C & Explores the use of Socio- Students and numerous possibilities The authors
implications of Talindong K, emerging educational alumni of and opportunities recommend for
technology use during (2020) technologies and implications of Mindanao arise in the use of empirical research on
COVID-19: A case the effect of these technology use State social media the newly-existing
study in General Santos technologies to and Covid-19 University- for the formation of online group
City, Philippines, fulfill the social General social relationships and relationships and how
and Santos City educational endeavors these virtual
educational needs even through the relationships and
of the stakeholders virtual world. emerging technologies
in times of a crisis can affect social
or emergency relations and human
learning behaviors.

17. Problematic versus Clofas J, Determine the Problematic 1087 Mental health among The present study is
reflective use: Types of Dayrit J, relationship of versus Filipino young Filipino limited by its sampling
social media use as Albao B, pandemic-related reflective use undergradua undergraduates is design, which
determinants of mental (2022) changes in SMU, and mental tes aged 18 influenced by recruited participants
health among young and two types of health among to 30 years pandemic-related via social networking
Filipino undergraduates SMU with mental young Filipino old changes and types of sites, thus constraining
health among undergraduate SMU. its generalizability.
young Filipino s
undergraduates.

18.Specification curve Twenge J, Investigate the Social media 16,374 boys Among girls, there is a Their results have a
analysis shows that Haidt J, association use and poor and 17,377 consistent and more general
social media use is Lozano J, between adolescent mental health girls in 8th substantial association methodological
linked to poor mental Cummins K, technology use and and 10th between mental health implication: they
health, especially among (2022), mental health/well- grade, 2013– and social media use demonstrate the
girls, being. 2016 limitations of SCA in
practice.

19.,Assessing the effect Thomas L, Assess Filipino Covid-19, 2,100 The COVID-19 Little is known about
of the COVID-19 Zypher L, college students’ online college pandemic and its the effect of
pandemic, shift to online Regencia J, mental health status learning, students accompanying effects transitioning to online
will persistently affect learning and social
learning, and social Dela Cruz R, and to estimate the social media across the
the mental wellbeing of media exposure on the
media use on the mental Dominique F, effect of the use and Philippines college students. mental health of
health of college Rodolfo M, COVID-19 mental health college students after
students in the Ly-Uson J, pandemic, the shift of college the COVID-19
Philippines: A mixed- Baja E to online learning, students in the pandemic in the
method study protocol (2022 ) and social media Philippines Philippines.
use on mental
health.

20. Students under .Elmer T, Investigates Social Undergradua Ongoing efforts of The observational
lockdown: Comparisons Mepham K, students’ social networks, te student universities around the research design does
of students’ social Stadtfeld, networks and mental health from 2018, world to develop new not allow us to make
hybrid teaching causal claims
networks and mental (2020) mental health before and 2019 and
strategies for the
health before and during before and at the during the 2020 coming academic
the COVID-19 crisis in time of the COVID-19 years.
Switzerland COVID-19
pandemic in April
2020