Date of Conferral

8-14-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Marites Pinon

Abstract

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents spent time in social isolation from their peers due to periods of mandated lockdown. It was unclear how social media use during lockdown could have influenced adolescents’ mental health after the pandemic. Psychosocial development theory and self-socialization theory formed the theoretical framework for this study. This study examined 158 adolescents aged 13-17 who experienced lockdowns and movement restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The independent variables were a) the social media sites most frequented during lockdowns, and b) the purposes of their use. The RCADS and the UCLA Loneliness Scale provided participants’ levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness (DVs). Nonparametric analyses revealed there were no relationships between social media sites used and the purposes of their use, and levels of loneliness. Relationships were found between social media use and anxiety, as well as between purposes of social media use and anxiety and depression. These results fell in line with past research, which indicated that social media use puts adolescents at higher risk of mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. Post hoc results were hampered by a high number of comparison groups. However, escaping life was a key reason for social media use among those with the highest anxiety and depression scores. Finding humor and entertainment were listed by those with the lowest anxiety scores; connecting with others was listed by those with the lowest depression scores. Implications for positive social change include understanding the use of social media during periods of enforced isolation and how programs and supports can be developed to reduce risk factors associated with social media use.

Download

Share

 
COinS