BECOMING CONNECTED AND DISCONNECTED AT THE SAME TIME:
IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL CORRELATION BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS
This assignment required writing a research proposal. The assignment requirements included conducting background research, inclusion of a specified list of headings, inclusion of a budget, as well as figures and/or tables, and references.
Project Objective
In recent decades many things in society have changed. Some changes can be related, others not so much. There are a couple of notable changes which will be explored through this research project.
First, instances of mental health challenges are on the rise, including two specific conditions: depression and anxiety. These increases can potentially be attributed to increased awareness, decreased stigmatism and increased reporting of these conditions. However, it is worth asking what, if any, societal changes can possibly account for increases in these conditions.
Another change over recent times has been in the way people interact and communicate- a change that is contributed to in part by the boom in technology and the invent and use of social media.
This study will investigate the presence and strength of a correlation- positive or negative- with the goal of potentially contributing to addressing the increasing incidence of mental health disorders.
Background & Significance
Since the explosion of technology in society, including the introduction and enormous acceptance and use of social media, there has been much speculation and assertion on whether there is a positive correlation between social media use and increases of depression and/or anxiety. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States: second leading cause of American deaths in the age ranges of 10 to 14 years and 25 to 34 years, third leading cause of American deaths in the age range of 15 to 24 years, and fourth leading cause of death in Americans ages 35 to 44 years old. (National Institute of Mental Health [NIH] 2025) The NIH further informs us that the suicide rate has increased 35.2% between 2000 and 2018. While the NIH does report that the suicide rate did decline in 2019 and 2020, it also informs us that the suicide rate increased in 2021 and in 2022.
With suicide taking the lives of so many, we are compelled to act. Identifying potential correlations, causations and triggers related to mental health challenges and crises is an essential step towards pursuing potential ways to mitigate this public health crisis.
Enter the topic of social media and the amazingly widespread use at an explosive rate. Looking further into social media and technology use, it has undoubtedly altered how society interacts and communicates. It is widely believed that interpersonal communication can have a positive- or a detrimental- impact on an individual’s mental health. In fact, social isolation, bullying, verbal or emotional abuse have all been identified as potential causes of mental health events. As social media has changed how we interact and communicate, it has brought about its own challenges and pitfalls. Illustrating the pitfalls of technology in interpersonal communication is an often-circulated quote discussing how mobile phones have made communication possible and simple with those across the world, while simultaneously posing as an obstacle to communication with someone sitting next to or across from you. Anonymity, speed of transmission and receipt, lack of interpersonal connection and more can be attributed to social media and technology-based communication. With reduction of suicide and related mental health challenges being of extreme importance, exploration of any potential correlation, or causation of these conditions requires exploration- including the role social media may play.
Research Methods
Utilizing quantitative analysis, the study will use an explanatory methodological approach. First, I will collect data 500 individuals, ages 15-45, documenting their levels of three different categories: their social media use, their rated level of depression and their rated level of anxiety. This qualitative data will allow for both a presence of- as well of the strength of- either positive or negative correlations between social media use, depression and anxiety to be determined. The data will be collected via an anonymous questionnaire accessible by scanning a QR code. Collection of the data via a QR code questionnaire will provide and assure participants of anonymity, facilitating receipt of honest responses from more participants- especially in consideration of the sensitivity of the information being obtained, and the stigmas which exist in society in relation to mental health struggles.
The questionnaire will contain a range of questions focusing on three major categories. First, the questionnaire will document the participant’s social media use- specifically the frequency, duration and types of social media used, as well as the participant’s purpose of social media use. Next, the questionnaire will seek responses to the questions which are contained in a standard PHQ-9 assessment, to determine the participant’s level of depression. Lastly, the questionnaire will elicit responses to the questions contained in a standard GAD-7 assessment, determining the participant’s level of anxiety.
Once data collection has been completed, all results will be transcribed onto two graphs: a graph illustrating reported social media use as well as the documented level of depression of each participant (determined by the PHQ-9 question responses), and another graph illustrating reported social media use with the documented level of anxiety (determined by the GAD-7 question responses). A positive or negative correlation- and the strength of any noted correlation, will be documented for both depression and for anxiety.
The following timeline has been set for the above research:
| Research Project Submitted for IRB Review | January 16, 2026 |
| Posting of Questionnaire QR Code | February 16, 2026 |
| Last Day Accepting Questionnaire Responses | March 15, 2026 |
| Completion of Response Analysis | March 20, 2026 |
| Presentation of Final Research Report | April 15, 2026 |
Expected Outcome
I expect that this research project will demonstrate a positive correlation between an increased level of social media use and increases in levels of both depression as well as anxiety. Furthermore, I expect that the positive correlations illustrated will be of moderate to significant strength.
Depression and anxiety can have many triggers, with social interaction and interpersonal communication presenting a virtually unlimited possibility of such triggers. Additionally, social media use and technology use has changed how we as a society interact with each other, as well as making communication faster and easier to execute. This can add components to such communication as the ability to have a less personal connection with whom one is communicating, the possibility of communication to be transmitted without the benefit of time to think through the message being sent and the way it is being constructed, and the ability for harmful communication to spread far and wide with a previously unprecedented speed. All of the above can lead to negative and potentially harmful interactions- which undoubtably can have a negative impact on mental health of those affected.
Further supporting the stated expected outcome is the preliminary research done and the information obtained during the literature review included in this research proposal. Researchers have identified upward trends in depression rates, anxiety rates and in the use of social media. These preliminary research findings, combined with consideration of the potential triggers of mental health challenges created by social media, seem to point in the direction of a reasonable and logical path towards a correlation. As such, it is expected that this research study will demonstrate correlation between the three through the study results obtained.
Lastly, I have personally observed increases in the frequency in which mental health challenges are experienced, reported and readily discussed. Additionally, I have personally experienced the technological and social media explosion which has occurred. I have seen triggering events related to or originated in social media posts and other technology related communication methods. As such, I expect the research project results to demonstrate a positive correlation as stated above.
With a correlation being documented, and subsequently published, the way for further research on determining causation can be conducted- with the ultimate objective of reducing the incidence of mental health challenges related to and/or resulting from social media use.
Literature Review
In observing mental health conditions- including depression and anxiety- on the rise it is only appropriate that we pose the question of what could be contributing to this increase in mental health challenges. One potential change in society which could be associated with these increased challenges is the change in how people interact and communicate with each other. Social media use has not only become commonplace, but over the last few decades the world has seen a technological advance of unprecedented speed. With technology having such a dramatic effect on how human beings communicate and interact with each other, a correlation between depression and anxiety rates and the amount of documented social media use- a prevalent means of interpersonal interaction and communication in the present-day world- would merit exploration.
Depression has been on the rise and continues to move that direction. The number of cases of depression worldwide increased 49.86% from 1990 to 2017, from 172 million cases in 1990 to 258 million cases in 2017. (Liu et al., 2020) Incidences of anxiety has also risen notably, however not as much as depression. A study of trends in anxiety disorders from 1990 to 2019 showed a “slightly fluctuating upward trend.” (Cao et al., 2024) In most studies, nearly 50% of mental health disorders begin in the mid-teen years, and about 75% by the mid-twenties. (Kessler et al., 2007)
Depression can be assessed using several different assessment instruments. The Patient Health Questionnaire, or PHQ-9, is a commonly used self-reporting assessment, and can often be completed by a participant in less than five minutes. (American Psychological Association [APA] 2023) In a meta-analysis conducted in 2019, it was concluded that the “PHQ-9 sensitivity compared with semi structured diagnostic interviews was greater than in previous conventional meta-analyses that combined reference standards.” (Levis et al., 2019) As an accurate instrument commonplace in the assessment of depression and able to be completed in a timely manner with minimal effort, it is appropriate to select the PHQ-9 as ideal for determining the presence of depression in this study.
Much like depression, Anxiety can be easily and accurately assessed utilizing a self-reporting assessment screening tool. The General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) assessment was found in a study to have “good reliability, as well as criterion, construct, factorial and procedural validity.” (Spitzer, et al., 2026) In the same study, the authors concluded that “The GAD-7 is a valid and efficient tool for screening for GAD and assessing its severity in clinical practice and research.” As the GAD-7 is a reliable, accurate and efficient assessment tool, its use in this study to evaluate for the presence- and measure the level of- anxiety would be appropriate.
Social media use has increased rapidly since its inception. According to an article by David Chaffey, over 62% of the world’s population uses social media, with the average usage daily being almost two and a half hours. (Chaffey, 2024) According to an article on Exploding Topics, 2024 data shows that the average American will check their mobile device 159 times per day, and that users will spend 4 trillion hours on social media sites this year. (Howarth, 2024) Furthermore, the Howarth article informs us that 46% of Americans report watching more user-generated content via social media sites than they watch streamed movies or television shows. Moreover, Howarth’s article informs readers that Americans spend an average of 31 minutes per day on the social media site Facebook.
In consideration of the rise in mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety and appreciating the dramatic increase in social media usage as a means of interacting and communicating with others around the world, it is not surprising that questions of whether or not there is a correlation between these two phenomena would arise. According to a review article in the International Journal of Adolescents and Youth, the link between social media use and mental health conditions may have several contributory factors and is therefore not quite straightforward. (Keles et al. 2019) Additional potential contributory factors which the above article lists include sleep impairment, sedentary conditions and online multitasking. In an article in Psychological Inquiry the authors assert that rather than focusing on correlations between screen time and mental health impacts, that a functional approach which examines the why and how digital media affects mental health and development is ideal. (Granic et al. 2020). One example of this approach is found in the research study which is discussed in a CNN article in 2019, which reports that according to a research study which interviewed approximately 10,000 youth between 13 and 16 years old in England, social media may have a negative impact on girls’ mental health as a result of increased bullying exposure, reduced sleep and reduced exercise. (Asmelash, 2019). One point that Asmelash makes is that it is not the social media perse that causes the harm to individuals; rather, it may be the combination of interfering with activities that positively impact mental health, while exposing them to things which can be harmful to mental health, such as cyberbullying.
As the marked increase in depression and anxiety worldwide- as well as the profound increase in social media use since its inception- are both clear, the answer to whether the former causes the latter is not so transparent. A correlation may be identifiable, yet causation, and furthermore the how and why, would require additional research. As stated in the conclusion of an article in the Australian Journal of Psychology, “research examining loneliness, sense of belonging, and social media involvement among adolescence and young adults suggests the relationships between these variables are multifaceted and complex.” (Smith, et al., 2021) Such are the relationships between depression and anxiety- or mental health overall- and social media use.
Preliminary Work & Experience
With over two decades of in hospital and pre-hospital emergency medicine experience, I have extensive experience with individuals experiencing mental health challenges and conditions, including anxiety and depression. Additionally, I have utilized both the PHQ-9 assessments and GAD-7 assessments consistently over a period of time. I have observed the accuracy of the assessment tools listed in being congruent with the symptomology demonstrated by individuals experiencing mental health challenges, as well as the subsequent mental health diagnoses of such individuals. Furthermore, I have personally observed a notable increase in the volume of mental health related patient contacts in which I have been involved over the span of a couple decades. I have heard many accounts by individuals who reported precipitating events related to communication problems, bullying, text messages, social media attacks and posts, world events, and more during my encounters with those experiencing mental health challenges. The research listed in the literature review portion of this proposal provides material which appears to be consistent with the above observations.
IRB/IACUC Statement
This research project will be conducted in compliance with all regulations and ethical standards applicable to utilization of human research subjects. Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval will be obtained prior to conducting any research activities involving human subjects. Informed consent of all participants, confidentiality and data security will be ensured.
Budget
| Card Stock for Flyers (400) | $120.00 |
| Printer Ink for Flyers | $180.00 |
| Staff (8) to Post & Distribute Flyers (2 hours/staffer) | $400.00 |
| Total Expenses | $700.00 |
References
American Psychological Association (January 2023) Depression Assessment Instruments
https://www.apa.org/depression-guideline/assessment
Asmelash, L. (2019, August 14). Social media use may harm teens’ mental health by disrupting positive activities, study says. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/13/health/social-media-mental-health-trnd/index.html
Cao H, Wu Y, Yin H, Sun Y, Yuan H, Tao M
Global Trends in the Incidence of Anxiety Disorders From 1990 to 2019: Joinpoint and Age-Period-Cohort Analysis Study JMIR Public Health Surveill 2024;10:e49609
Chaffey, D. (2024, May 1). Global social media statistics research summary May 2024. Smart Insights. https://www.smartinsights.com/social-media-marketing/social-media-strategy/new-global-social-media research/#:~:text=62.3%25%20of%20the%20world’s%20population,10%20digital%20marketing%20statistics%20sources.
Granic, I., Morita, H., & Scholten, H. (2020). Beyond Screen Time: Identity Development in the Digital Age. Psychological Inquiry, 31(3), 195-223. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2020.1820214
Howarth, J. (2024, May 10). Worldwide Daily Social Media Usage (New 2024 Data). Exploding Topics. https://explodingtopics.com/blog/social-media-usage
Keles, B., McCrae, N., & Grealish, A. (2019). A systematic review: the influence of social media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 79–93. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1590851
Kessler, R. C., Amminger, G. P., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Alonso, J., Lee, S., & Ustün, T. B. (2007). Age of onset of mental disorders: a review of recent literature. Current opinion in psychiatry, 20(4), 359–364. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCO.0b013e32816ebc8c
Levis, B., Benedetti, A., Thombs, B. D., & DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Collaboration (2019). Accuracy of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression: individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 365, l1476. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l1476
National Institute of Mental Health (March 2025) Suicide
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide
Qingqing Liu, Hairong He, Jin Yang, Xiaojie Feng, Fanfan Zhao, Jun Lyu, Changes in the global burden of depression from 1990 to 2017: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease study, Journal of Psychiatric Research, Volume 126, 2020, Pages 134-140, ISSN 0022-3956, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.08.002. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395619307381)
Smith, D., Leonis, T., & Anandavalli, S. (2021). Belonging and loneliness in cyberspace: impacts of social media on adolescents’ well-being. Australian Journal of Psychology, 73(1), 12–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2021.1898914
Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Williams, J. B., & Löwe, B. (2006). A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Archives of internal medicine, 166(10), 1092–1097. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092
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