The impact of social media on young web users’ psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic progression

Keywords: social media, stress, adaptation, mental health, psychological health.

Abstract

Aim. The present study empirically investigates and theoretically substantiates the results of the impact of social media on young web-users’ psychological well-being during the forced self-isolation caused by the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 254). Materials and methods. Standardized valid psycho-diagnostic methods, the author’s questionnaire (A. Hudimova, 2021), correlation and factor analyses were used to identify young web users’ patterns of social media involvement during the forced self-isolation. Results. The results show that during the global COVID-19 pandemic, young web users give preference for passive social media use rather than for communication. The obtained results showed an expansion in the time spent via social media by young web users. It was found that the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic is accompanied by the participants’ experience of negative emotions and fears of the unknown (r = .204; p <.01). It is substantiated that increasing immersion of young web users in social media is a kind of strategy to escape from bad thoughts (r = .271; p <.01). Significantly, it is stated that uncontrolled use of social media causes sleep disorders during isolation (r = .444; p <.01). Conclusions. The study proves that young people spend almost all day online due to the obsessive pattern of social media involvement and/or procrastination, which often provokes withdrawal syndrome upon the attempt to distract from them. The lack of controlled time spending on social media during self-isolation provokes an exacerbation of anxiety, apathy, depressed mood, and a sense of isolation from social reality. The obtained results provide evidence that the causal relations of passive social media use provoke an exacerbation of feelings of alienation, disrupt the healthy rhythm of sleep, and psychological state of young web-users during the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Author Biographies

Alisar Hudimova, Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, Odesa, Ukraine.

PhD Candidate in Psychology of Department Practical and Clinical Psychology, Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, Odesa, Ukraine.

Ihor Popovych, Kherson State University, Kherson, Ukraine.

Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Full Professor of Department of Psychology, Kherson State University, Kherson, Ukraine.

Vita Baidyk, Luhansk Regional In-Service Teacher Training Institute, Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine.

Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Head of Department of Education Management, Luhansk Regional In-Service Teacher Training Institute, Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine.

Olena Buriak, Luhansk Regional In-Service Teacher Training Institute, Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine.

Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Head of Department of Natural Sciences and Methods of Teaching, Luhansk Regional In-Service Teacher Training Institute, Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine.

Olha Kechyk, Luhansk Regional In-Service Teacher Training Institute, Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine.

Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Senior Lecturer of Department of Natural Sciences and Methods of Teaching, Luhansk Regional In-Service Teacher Training Institute, Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine.

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Published
2021-05-05
How to Cite
Hudimova, A., Popovych, I., Baidyk, V., Buriak, O., & Kechyk, O. (2021). The impact of social media on young web users’ psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic progression. Amazonia Investiga, 10(39), 50-61. https://doi.org/10.34069/AI/2021.39.03.5
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Articles
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