JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Recently, numerous parents, activists, and decision-makers have expressed concerns about the potentially harmful effects of social media usage on mental health. While some research has indicated that social media usage is associated with negative outcomes such as suicide, loneliness, and reduced empathy, other studies have found no evidence of harm or even potential benefits for some users. In this correlational study, we examined the relationship between social media usage and various mental health outcomes among 314 users, including anxiety, self-esteem, depression, body dysmorphia, addiction to social media, and eating disorders. With a particular emphasis on the Saudi Arabian sample. Our results revealed a statistically significant association between social media usage and adverse mental health outcomes, as well as poorer family functioning. Additionally, our multivariable analysis showed that age and gender were significant factors in this relationship. Specifically, we found that females between the ages of 25-34 may be particularly vulnerable to negative mental health effects due to social media usage, and may benefit from reducing their social media consumption and avoiding comparisons with others.