Psychological Distress in Adolescents and Social Media Overuse: The Role of Demographic and Family Dynamics

Abstract

Background: Among youth, overuse of social media has been linked to increased psychological distress such as depression, anxiety, and stress. How demographic variables and family processes affect such effects remains a gap that still requires exploration.
Objectives: To examine the impact of social media overuse on youth psychological distress, explore its moderating effects concerning demographic and family variables, and what adolescents' perceptions are of peer pressure, online validation, and cyberbullying.
Methodology: An exploratory sequential mixed-method design was used, combining quantitative surveys (DASS-21, PHQ-9, GAD-7) and qualitative semi-structured interviews. The sample size was 500 adolescents; data analysis was descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and thematic analysis.
Results: Social media overuse had a direct impact on psychological distress levels. Family relationships, specifically parental engagement, moderated these impacts. Qualitative findings identified peer pressure, cyberbullying, and online validation as key contributors to distress.
Conclusion: There are adverse effects on adolescent mental health from overuse of social media, for which family participation can act as a protective measure.
Interventions must include enhancing parental engagement and encouraging healthy social media usage.