Title: The Relationship between Social Media Use and Mental Health among College Students
Social media has become an integral part of everyday life for many people, including college students. There are several theories related to social media use and mental health, but the present study will focus on the Social Comparison Theory (Festinger, 1954) and the Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000).
The Social Comparison Theory suggests that individuals evaluate themselves by comparing themselves to others. Social media provides a platform for individuals to compare their lives to those of others, which may lead to negative feelings such as jealousy, envy, and low self-esteem (Festinger, 1954). On the other hand, the Self-Determination Theory posits that individuals have inherent psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Social media can satisfy one's need for relatedness, but it may also lead to a decrease in autonomy and competence, which can negatively impact mental health (Ryan & Deci, 2000).
The present study aims to investigate the relationship between social media use and mental health among college students. Specifically, it aims to explore the extent to which social media use affects mental health and how the Social Comparison Theory and Self-Determination Theory can explain this relationship. This study is relevant as it can contribute to the understanding of the impact of social media use on mental health, which can inform interventions and policies aimed at promoting mental health among college students.
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Title: The Relationship between Social Media Use and Mental Health among College Students
Social media has become an integral part of everyday life for many people, including college students. There are several theories related to social media use and mental health, but the present study will focus on the Social Comparison Theory (Festinger, 1954) and the Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000).
The Social Comparison Theory suggests that individuals evaluate themselves by comparing themselves to others. Social media provides a platform for individuals to compare their lives to those of others, which may lead to negative feelings such as jealousy, envy, and low self-esteem (Festinger, 1954). On the other hand, the Self-Determination Theory posits that individuals have inherent psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Social media can satisfy one's need for relatedness, but it may also lead to a decrease in autonomy and competence, which can negatively impact mental health (Ryan & Deci, 2000).
The present study aims to investigate the relationship between social media use and mental health among college students. Specifically, it aims to explore the extent to which social media use affects mental health and how the Social Comparison Theory and Self-Determination Theory can explain this relationship. This study is relevant as it can contribute to the understanding of the impact of social media use on mental health, which can inform interventions and policies aimed at promoting mental health among college students.