The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract: Social media has become an integral part of young adults' daily lives, providing opportunities for communication, information sharing, and social support. However, concerns remain regarding its potential association with emotional well-being, sleep, social comparison, and online harassment. The present study examined social media use and self-reported mental health-related experiences among young adults aged 18-25 years. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, and 99 consenting responses were included after excluding three responses from participants who did not consent. Descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank-order correlation were used. Instagram was the most frequently reported platform (74.7%), and 64.6% reported using social media for at least three hours daily. Usage duration was positively associated with checking social media immediately after waking (ρ = .368, p
Keywords: social media, mental health, young adults, online behaviour
How to Cite?: Zainab Merchant, Dhruthi S Prasad, "The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1864-1867, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR261028023114, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR261028023114