Exploring Social Media's Role in Student Anxiety and Depression

This report investigates the correlation between social media usage and the prevalence of anxiety and depression among high school and college students. It highlights the background of the problem, theoretical foundations, and a review of relevant literature, identifying a gap in current research regarding preventative measures. The study proposes a mixed-methods approach, utilizing questionnaires for students and interviews with principals in the urban Boston area, to assess the impact of social media and evaluate the role of educational authorities. The research aims to determine if social media significantly contributes to student anxiety and depression and whether schools are adequately addressing these issues, with the ultimate goal of identifying potential interventions. Desklib provides access to a wealth of similar reports and study resources for students.

Running Head: PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
Name of the Student:
Name of University:
Author Note:

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Abstract
Social media is considered to be a driven factor that caused depression and anxiety among the
students. In this regard, the purpose of this proposal is to identify the intensity of the social
media on causing trouble in Students’ psychology. In addition to this, the discussion also
incorporates an understanding regarding the role of the principals of the schools and colleges.
Furthermore, the urban Boston region is identified as the sample location with a sample size of
10 students and 1 principal from each school. As a matter of fact, mix methodology is used in for
collecting data from the samples. Therefore, it can be concluded that the proposal is accurate and
follows the ten strategic points correctly.

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Table of Contents
Topic................................................................................................................................................3
Literature review..............................................................................................................................3
a. Background of the problem..................................................................................................3
b. Theoretical foundation..........................................................................................................3
c. Review literature...................................................................................................................4
d. Summary...............................................................................................................................4
Problem statement...........................................................................................................................5
Sample and location.........................................................................................................................5
Research questions...........................................................................................................................6
Hypothesis.......................................................................................................................................6
Methodology....................................................................................................................................7
Purpose statement............................................................................................................................7
Data collection.................................................................................................................................7
Data analysis....................................................................................................................................7
Reference.........................................................................................................................................9

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Topic
The topic of this research proposal is “Anxiety and Depression connected to use of
Social Media in the 21st Century High-School and College Student Population.”
Literature review
a. Background of the problem
i. Due to the rapid use of social media it is become a common psychological
disorder among the young and adults and hampering their natural sleep that leads
to mental disorder and blockage (Woods & Scott, 2016).
ii. According to Andreassen et al., (2016) poor sleep quality can cause anxiety and
depression among the young and adults. Moreover, the vulnerability of
continuous surfing on social media creates low self-esteem and self-centredness.
iii. In the studies, Guntuku et al., (2017) showed that depression became a common
phenomenon among the students because continuous surfing on the social media
leads them to develop a poor self-esteem or over confidence. As a result of that
when they failed to accomplish something then it affected them emphatically.
b. Theoretical foundation
i. It can be argued that the perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness
are the primary theory behind depression that leads to suicide tendency among the
victims (Blease, 2015).
ii. On the other hand, Ma et al., (2016) advocated that after the advent of the social
media it became a chronic disease among the youths to get suffered with the

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social media. In this context, Kleiman, Liu and Riskind (2014) propounded the
theory of ‘Facebook depression’.
iii. Besides this, Joormann and Vanderlind (2014) puts more focus on the cognitive
and socio-cultural foundations that are responsible for the indiscriminate erection
of depression and anxiety.
c. Review literature
i. Limited use of the social media is necessary for the young generation in order to
reduce depression and anxiety.
ii. The schools and college authorities must put more emphasis on the reason behind
depression and anxiety among the students.
iii. It requires government initiatives in order to deal with the growing negative
impact of the depression and anxiety among the students. Some regulations and
enactment will be beneficial to prevent indiscriminate use of social media.
iv. Implementation of effective psychological evaluation process should be installed
in the educational institutions because of setting up awareness regarding the
adverse impact of social media.
d. Summary
i. Gap: It is important to procure a framework regarding the evaluation of the
mental stability and the reaction of the authority.
ii. Prior Studies: The previous researches and literatures are addressed the reason
behind the anxiety and depression among the youths and the adults but failed to
address any remedies to prevent the indiscriminate use of social media.

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iii. Quantitative study: The research puts emphasis on the quantitative study by
collecting data and information from the students and college and school
authorities.
iv. Significance: The purpose of this proposal is not only identifying the intensity of
the social media on students’ psychology but also figure out the possible remedies
in order to prevent psychological disorder among the students due to use of social
media.
Problem statement
The relationship between social media and psychology of the students are subjected to
further research and based on it the report will discuss whether there is any adverse impact of
social media on the students.
Sample and location
a. Location: Boston
b. Population: All local schools and colleges in urban Boston
c. Sample: 20 renowned schools and colleges in the urban Boston districts with
approximately 20 principals from each institution.
d. Number of observation for each principal in the sample: There will be maximum 10
students under one principal in each school who are considered to be the sample for this
research.

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Research questions
a. R1: Is there any detrimental impact of social media on the psychology of the students?
b. R2: How far the educational authorities evaluate the adverse impact of the social media
on students?
c. R3: How far the educational authorities take initiatives to reduce the negative impact on
social media on students?
d. R4: Is there any possibility that the students can resolve the issue of their own?
Hypothesis
a. H1A: There is a significant relationship between the growing anxiety and depression of
the students and the role of social media in it.
b. H1A0: The role of social media in enhancing depression and anxiety is not significant
enough in compare to the other factors behind the psychological disorder of the students.
c. H2A: The educational authorities have a big role to prevent the adverse impact of the
threat of anxiety and depression among the students.
d. H2A0: Anxiety and depression have no relationship with the educational institute
therefore the educational authorities also have no role to play in this context.
e. H3A: The principals of schools and colleges must take initiatives in order to prevent
psychological disorder among the students caused by the social media.
f. H3A0: As there is no relationship between the student’s anxiety due to social media and
the educational institutes henceforth the principals also do not partake in the process.
g. H4A: The adverse impact of social media on the students’ psychology is a spontaneous
matter and the students are able to resolve the issue of their own.

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h. H4A0: Depression and anxiety by social media caused deep impression on the students as
a result of that the need an outside intervention to resolve the issue.
Methodology
The research will be based on a mixed methodology where the researcher relies on both
the primary and secondary sources (Mayoh & Onwuegbuzie, 2015). In this context, the primary
sources can be identified as the close ended questionnaire for the students and an open ended
interview session for the principals. Moreover, both qualitative and quantitative analysis are
followed into the research. On the other hand, the secondary research will be focused on the
government regulations and the previous researches on this matter.
Purpose statement
The purpose of this research is to understand the impact of social media on the student
psychology and the way schools and colleges are responsible to mitigate the issue.
Data collection
a) Independent variable: Social media
b) Dependant variable: Anxiety of the students
c) Dependant variable: Depression of the students
Data analysis
a. An interview will be conducted on the students based on the close ended questionnaire.

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b. The principals of each colleges and schools will face an interview session with the
researchers and the interview round will be based on open ended questions.
c. A psychometric tests will also be used in order to understand the psychological stability
and condition of the students.

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Reference
Andreassen, C. S., Billieux, J., Griffiths, M. D., Kuss, D. J., Demetrovics, Z., Mazzoni, E., &
Pallesen, S. (2016). The relationship between addictive use of social media and video
games and symptoms of psychiatric disorders: A large-scale cross-sectional
study. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 30(2), 252.
Blease, C. R. (2015). Too many ‘friends,’too few ‘likes’? Evolutionary psychology and
‘Facebook depression’. Review of General Psychology, 19(1), 1.
Guntuku, S. C., Yaden, D. B., Kern, M. L., Ungar, L. H., & Eichstaedt, J. C. (2017). Detecting
depression and mental illness on social media: an integrative review. Current Opinion in
Behavioral Sciences, 18, 43-49.
Joormann, J., & Vanderlind, W. M. (2014). Emotion regulation in depression: The role of biased
cognition and reduced cognitive control. Clinical Psychological Science, 2(4), 402-421.
Kleiman, E. M., Liu, R. T., & Riskind, J. H. (2014). Integrating the interpersonal psychological
theory of suicide into the depression/suicidal ideation relationship: A short-term
prospective study. Behavior therapy, 45(2), 212-221.
Ma, J., Batterham, P. J., Calear, A. L., & Han, J. (2016). A systematic review of the predictions
of the Interpersonal–Psychological Theory of Suicidal Behavior. Clinical psychology
review, 46, 34-45.
Mayoh, J., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2015). Toward a conceptualization of mixed methods
phenomenological research. Journal of mixed methods research, 9(1), 91-107.

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Woods, H. C., & Scott, H. (2016). # Sleepyteens: social media use in adolescence is associated
with poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Journal of
Adolescence, 51, 41-49.