According to a recent study, reducing social media usage improves college students mental health. Researchers found that reducing social media consumption led to decreased levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and fear of missing out.
The study, conducted over a two-week period, involved college students who voluntarily limited their social media usage. Lead author Ella Faulhaber, a doctoral student in human-computer interaction at Iowa State University, expressed that the results were somewhat surprising. Many people tend to rely on social media as a means of stress management, entertainment, and staying connected with others. However, the participants reported unexpected benefits after reducing their social media usage.
Participants mentioned improved sleep quality, increased real-life social connections, and a sense of busyness with other activities. The findings of this study align with recent health advisories from the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association, both of which have highlighted the negative impact of excessive social media use on young people’s mental health.
The research involved 230 college students, half of whom were asked to limit their social media usage to 30 minutes per day. Daily reminders were sent to these students to help them stay within the time limit. At the end of the study, the group that restricted their social media usage showed significantly lower scores for depression, anxiety, loneliness, and fear of missing out compared to the control group that did not limit their social media usage.
The study’s implications indicate that limiting social media usage is a feasible and effective strategy for improving mental well-being. Psychiatrist Dr. Howard Liu, chairman of the American Psychiatric Association’s Council on Communications, praised the study’s real-world experiment and emphasized the importance of human connection.
Prioritizing quality sleep is another important aspect of maintaining good mental health. Instead of scrolling through their phones before bed, individuals should consider avoiding exposure to the light emitted by screens, as it disrupts the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
The research, recently published in the journal Technology, Mind, and Behavior, highlights the simple yet effective measures that individuals can take to enhance their mental well-being in today’s digital age.
This article was first published at: upi.com
