TITLE:
Online-Offline: An Exploratory Study on the Relationship between Social Media Use and Positive Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic
AUTHORS:
Christina Lauri, Lorleen Farrugia, Mary Anne Lauri
KEYWORDS:
Social Media, Social Media Apps, Positive Mental Health, Social Connectedness, Routine Use, COVID-19 Pandemic
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.10 No.2,
February
17,
2022
ABSTRACT: Most studies on the use of social media address the effects associated
with excessive use, focusing on the length of time spent online. The
motivations for using social media and the type of apps used are not always
given due importance. This study focuses on the users’ emotional connections to
social media and positive mental health. It investigates social media use as a
normal behaviour used as part of a routine and also for social connectedness
during the COVID-19 pandemic. These constructs are measured using two scales,
the Social Media Use scale and the Positive Mental Health scale. Other
questions on types of social media apps used and the reasons why they are used
are also asked. Data from a volunteer sample (n = 631) of Maltese adults of
ages between 16 and 65+, showed that while there is no association between
routine use of social media and positive mental health, there is a significant
negative correlation between emotional connectedness of social media use and
positive mental health. The data also showed that the negative association
varies across age cohorts with younger people having less positive mental
health scores. This study suggests that the link between social media use and
positive mental health is more complex than just measuring time spent online
and effects on mental health outcomes.