- Social media does not provide helpful mental health support, a recent study found
- Real-life support is linked to reduced depression and anxiety
- Experts recommend that people reach out for real-life help and not rely on social media
Seeking mental health support on social media is not helpful, according to a new study.
The research published in Addictive Behaviors compared the impact of real-life mental health support to social media support.
Online survey
The researchers conducted an online survey. More than 400 university students in the United States completed the survey.
To identify the extent of their use of social media, and their level of social support in real life and on social media, the researchers used the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scale for measuring the levels of depression, anxiety and social isolation among the students.
They then analysed the data they collected from the survey and compared real-life social support and the social support that the participants received on social media.
Social media does not provide real support
The study findings show that social media use was significantly linked with decreased real-life social support.
The study also found that real-life social support was associated with reduced depression, anxiety, and social isolation. In contrast, social support on social media was not associated with any of these mental health benefits.
The researchers added that while social media support did not positively affect mental health, it, however, had no negative effect on mental wellbeing.
“It appears that the more excessive one’s social media use is, the less social support that person gets in real life, which leads to poor mental health,” study co-author Prof Morgan Ellithorpe said in a news release.
The researchers recommend that people who rely heavily on social media reach out to real-life people for social support. “Only real-life social support was linked to better overall mental health. Typical interactions over social media are limited.
“We theorise that they don’t allow for more substantial connection, which may be needed to provide the type of support that protects against negative mental health,” co-author Prof Dar Meshi said.
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