Previous research says that social media is harmful to mental health. A new study, however, argues that social media can actually improve mental health in adults.
Researchers from Michigan State University analyzed data from over 13,000 adult participants in a household survey. This survey included questions about the use of communication devices and psychological distress.
The team found that social media users were 63% less likely to experience psychological distress, including harmful mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. Furthermore, having many family members on social media reduced one’s likelihood of experiencing psychological distress even further.
This study challenges the common belief that social media is bad for mental health. Researchers say that past studies have focused on youth and college-aged individuals, as opposed to adults who can benefit from social media use instead.
Source:
(2019, June 26). Can Facebook improve your mental health? NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved from https://neurosciencenews.com/facebook-mental-health-14342/
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