This assignment is the first step toward completing the literature review in Week 3. For example: “What is the experience of military families when their soldier is deployed?” or “Is there a link between hours of television viewing and violent behavior in children aged 8-14?” Think of a question that might be answered in a number of different ways. Briefly describe your topic and research question. Point Value: 9 Points Weekly Learning Outcome Alignment: 2, 3
Topic: The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers’ Mental Health
Research Question: What is the relationship between the use of social media and the mental health of teenagers?
Introduction:
Social media platforms have become an integral part of teenagers’ lives, with the ability to connect and communicate with others on a global scale. However, there is growing concern about the potential negative impact of social media use on the mental health of teenagers. This assignment aims to explore the relationship between the use of social media and the mental health of teenagers.
Background:
Teenagers are increasingly spending significant amounts of time engaging with social media platforms. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 95% of American teenagers aged 13-17 and 87% of Canadian teenagers aged 13-17 reported using the internet and social media platforms, such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook (Anderson & Jiang, 2018; Perrin & Anderson, 2019). While social media offers numerous benefits, including social connection, self-expression, and information-sharing, concerns have been raised regarding its potential negative effects on mental health outcomes.
Research studies have begun to investigate the relationship between social media use and mental health, particularly among teenagers. Some studies suggest that excessive use of social media can lead to negative mental health outcomes, such as increased depressive symptoms, anxiety, loneliness, and body dissatisfaction. For example, a systematic review by Vannucci and McCauley (2017) found that high levels of social media use were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in adolescents. Similarly, a study by Houghton et al. (2018) demonstrated that heavy social media use was associated with higher levels of anxiety in adolescents.
On the other hand, other research suggests that social media use can have positive effects on mental health. Some studies suggest that social media can provide social support, reduce feelings of loneliness, and enhance self-esteem. For example, a study by Valkenburg et al. (2006) found that positive experiences on social media, such as receiving social support and positive comments, were associated with higher self-esteem in adolescents. Additionally, a study by Primack et al. (2017) found that using social media for more than one hour per day was associated with fewer depressive symptoms in adolescents.
These mixed findings highlight the complexity of the relationship between social media use and mental health outcomes among teenagers. It is essential to further investigate this relationship to understand the nuanced effects that social media may have on adolescents’ mental health.
Research Question:
Based on the existing literature, the following research question has been formulated: What is the relationship between the use of social media and the mental health of teenagers?
This research question aims to explore the potential connection between social media use and mental health outcomes among teenagers. It seeks to unravel the complexities of the relationship by examining the various dimensions of social media use (e.g., frequency, duration, and content consumption) and its impact on mental health outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety, self-esteem). By addressing this research question, we can gain a better understanding of the potential risks and benefits associated with social media use among teenagers and provide actionable insights for parents, educators, and policymakers.
In conclusion, this assignment has introduced the topic of the impact of social media on teenagers’ mental health and outlined the research question of the relationship between social media use and mental health outcomes among teenagers. The existing literature suggests both positive and negative effects of social media on mental health, underscoring the need for further investigation.
