JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Healthcare workers experienced significant mental health challenges, particularly anxiety, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although social media became a primary source of information and connection, it was also a potential source of stress. The influence of social media on healthcare workers’ anxiety is not well-understood.

Objective:

This study examined associations between social media use and anxiety symptoms among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

This study examined associations between social media use and anxiety symptoms among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2021 UC COVID study (N=427 healthcare workers). Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2). Social media use across five platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, other social media platforms, and other media sources) was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis within a structural equation modeling framework. The confirmatory factor analysis supported a single latent factor representing overall social media use, with all platform indicators loading significantly (p=<0.01) with moderate loadings (0.33–0.59). Model fit was acceptable (χ²(5)=12.49, p=<0.01), indicating that the five observed variables coherently reflected a unified social media use construct. Logistic regression models estimated associations between overall social media use and anxiety symptoms, both unadjusted and adjusted for demographic, occupational, and health-related characteristics.

Results:

Of the 427 healthcare workers, Facebook was utilized the most with 54% of respondents utilizing the platform at least once a day. A total of 29% reported clinically relevant anxiety symptoms (GAD-2 ≥ 3). Overall, higher social media use was significantly associated with anxiety symptoms (OR=1.77, CI: 1.15-2.73). Older age was significantly associated with lessened anxiety symptoms (aOR=0.97, CI: 0.95–0.99). Healthcare workers with a history of mental health diagnoses reported higher levels of anxiety symptoms (aOR=2.38, CI: 1.38–4.09). Non-Hispanic, non-White healthcare workers reported fewer anxiety symptoms compared to White healthcare workers (aOR=0.49, CI: 0.27–0.91). Participants reporting higher income had significantly lower odds of anxiety symptoms than those in the lower-income group (aOR = 0.38, CI: 0.18–0.81).

Conclusions:

Social media use during the pandemic was associated with elevated anxiety symptoms among healthcare workers. However, the rapidly evolving digital landscape underscores the need for continued research. Future studies should include emerging social media sources (i.e., TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, etc.) and repeat factor analyses as digital behaviors shift over time. Longitudinal and mixed-methods approaches are necessary to understand patterns and methods of social media use, accounting for misinformation and disinformation, emotional involvement, and content types such as photos and videos. Larger and more diverse healthcare worker samples, stronger mental health measures (e.g., GAD-7, depression, and burnout scales), and analyses stratified by clinical role and work environment will be essential to guide interventions that support healthcare worker well-being in a post-pandemic era with new challenges.