Scrolling and Stress: Exploring Internet Usage for Social Media and Psychological Distress in Young Adults
Background: Internet usage is increasing significantly among young adults for various purposes. Understanding the extent of their social media engagement is crucial. This study aims to explore how much young adults use the Internet for social media and its link to psychological distress. Methods: Th...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Annals of Indian Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/aip.aip_190_23 |
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| author | P C Pradeep Kumar M Kishor Archana Anthony Raj M. Murugappan Dhanabal S. Palaniswamy |
| author_facet | P C Pradeep Kumar M Kishor Archana Anthony Raj M. Murugappan Dhanabal S. Palaniswamy |
| author_sort | P C Pradeep Kumar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background:
Internet usage is increasing significantly among young adults for various purposes. Understanding the extent of their social media engagement is crucial. This study aims to explore how much young adults use the Internet for social media and its link to psychological distress.
Methods:
The study included 423 UG and PG students from two private colleges in Ooty, Tamil Nadu. They were selected using a purposive sampling technique. An online survey collected data through a sociodemographic data sheet, the Internet Use Scale, and the Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale.
Results:
The findings revealed that 26% (n = 111) of students excessively use the Internet for social media activities. More males (56.76%) than females (43.24%) use this excessively. Around 23% of these heavy users have four or more social media accounts. Instagram is the most popular platform (32%), followed by combinations such as Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube (28%), and Instagram paired with YouTube (20%). Excessive Internet users (P < 0.001) spend an average of 3.57 h on social media, while nonexcessive users spend 2.51 h. Over half of the excessive users had psychological distress (P < 0.001). Significant positive correlations were found between average social media usage hours, Internet use score, and psychological distress (P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Internet usage for social media activity is rising among students, and using multiple social media accounts and excessive use are associated with psychological distress. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-41da374171b5410284c6a46f8201649f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2588-8358 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Indian Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-41da374171b5410284c6a46f8201649f2025-02-10T10:34:28ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsAnnals of Indian Psychiatry2588-83582025-01-0191424710.4103/aip.aip_190_23Scrolling and Stress: Exploring Internet Usage for Social Media and Psychological Distress in Young AdultsP C Pradeep KumarM KishorArchana Anthony RajM. MurugappanDhanabal S. PalaniswamyBackground: Internet usage is increasing significantly among young adults for various purposes. Understanding the extent of their social media engagement is crucial. This study aims to explore how much young adults use the Internet for social media and its link to psychological distress. Methods: The study included 423 UG and PG students from two private colleges in Ooty, Tamil Nadu. They were selected using a purposive sampling technique. An online survey collected data through a sociodemographic data sheet, the Internet Use Scale, and the Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale. Results: The findings revealed that 26% (n = 111) of students excessively use the Internet for social media activities. More males (56.76%) than females (43.24%) use this excessively. Around 23% of these heavy users have four or more social media accounts. Instagram is the most popular platform (32%), followed by combinations such as Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube (28%), and Instagram paired with YouTube (20%). Excessive Internet users (P < 0.001) spend an average of 3.57 h on social media, while nonexcessive users spend 2.51 h. Over half of the excessive users had psychological distress (P < 0.001). Significant positive correlations were found between average social media usage hours, Internet use score, and psychological distress (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Internet usage for social media activity is rising among students, and using multiple social media accounts and excessive use are associated with psychological distress.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/aip.aip_190_23college studentsinternet usepsychological distresssocial mediayoung adults |
| spellingShingle | P C Pradeep Kumar M Kishor Archana Anthony Raj M. Murugappan Dhanabal S. Palaniswamy Scrolling and Stress: Exploring Internet Usage for Social Media and Psychological Distress in Young Adults Annals of Indian Psychiatry college students internet use psychological distress social media young adults |
| title | Scrolling and Stress: Exploring Internet Usage for Social Media and Psychological Distress in Young Adults |
| title_full | Scrolling and Stress: Exploring Internet Usage for Social Media and Psychological Distress in Young Adults |
| title_fullStr | Scrolling and Stress: Exploring Internet Usage for Social Media and Psychological Distress in Young Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scrolling and Stress: Exploring Internet Usage for Social Media and Psychological Distress in Young Adults |
| title_short | Scrolling and Stress: Exploring Internet Usage for Social Media and Psychological Distress in Young Adults |
| title_sort | scrolling and stress exploring internet usage for social media and psychological distress in young adults |
| topic | college students internet use psychological distress social media young adults |
| url | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/aip.aip_190_23 |
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