The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health: Insights from Indore
Social media has become an integral
part of our lives, with many people spending hours each day scrolling through
their feeds. But what impact does this have on mental health? In this blog
post, we will explore the insights gathered from a study conducted by the best psychiatrist in
Indore to shed light on how social media use affects mental health
in India.
The study surveyed 500 participants
aged 18-25 years old and found that those who used social media more than three
hours per day were more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety compared
to those who used it less frequently. It also showed that excessive use was
associated with lower self-esteem and higher levels of stress. This suggests that
too much time spent online can be detrimental for one’s psychological
wellbeing.
Additionally, the survey revealed
some interesting gender differences when it comes to social media usage and its
effect on mental health outcomes; females reported significantly higher levels
of anxiety than males when using platforms such as Instagram or Facebook for
extended periods of time each day (more than 3 hrs). Furthermore, female
respondents indicated feeling overwhelmed by comparison culture created by
these apps - something which is often referred to as ‘FOMO’ (fear Of Missing
Out). This could be due to women being exposed more regularly or deeply
affected by images posted online depicting unattainable body standards or
lifestyles they feel pressured into trying replicating themselves – leading
them down a path towards low self esteem.
On the other hand, male users seemed
less susceptible towards developing negative feelings related specifically with
their interactions within these spaces; instead they appeared concerned about
missing out opportunities available outside digital realms such as
education/career progressions. As expected,
overall both genders experienced similar levels depression & loneliness
regardless if they had high /low engagement rates across multiple networks.
Overall, results suggest there are potential
risks associated with heavy reliance upon digital technologies & platforms
– especially among younger age groups where emotional regulation skills may not
yet have been fully developed. Therefore caution should always be taken when
navigating virtual worlds - particularly during times like now where physical
contact has been limited due lack Covid 19 restrictions!
About the
Author:
Dr. Apurva Tiwari is an Indore-based psychiatrist engaged in offering
mental health services to the general population of the nation. She has been
serving in the field of psychiatry for the past 8+ years. Over the years, she
has acquired immense popularity for the quality of mental health services that
she offers.
Comments
Post a Comment