Association between the use of social networking sites and mental health of young generation in Bangladesh: A cross‐sectional study

• Published in: Journal of community psychology Vol. 49; no. 7; pp. 2276 - 2297
• Main Authors: Islam, Md. Rabiul, Jannath, Sanjida, Moona, Amena A., Akter, Shahinur, Hossain, Md. Jamal, Islam, Sardar M. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2021
• Subjects: Clinical psychology; Cross-sectional studies; depression; Facebook; generalized anxiety; Loneliness; Mental depression; Mental health; Sleep; sleep disturbance; social networking site; Social networks; Urban population; Young adults; Bangladesh
• ISSN: 0090-4392; 1520-6629; 1520-6629
• DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22675

The social networking sites (SNS) are popular among people of all levels. Here we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the use of SNS and the mental health of the young generation in Bangladesh. We conducted this cross‐sectional study among 791 subjects aged between 15 and 40 years. Self‐reported questionnaires were used to collect demographics and SNS usage patterns of the respondents. We have measured the levels of loneliness, depression, generalized anxiety, and sleep disturbance using the recommended mental health assessment scales. The estimations of loneliness, depression, generalized anxiety, and sleep disturbance among the respondents were 64%, 38%, 63%, and 75%, respectively. Young adults, female sex, unmarried individuals, students, and urban residents reported higher psychological issues regarding the SNS use. Reported mental health issues were associated with time spent in SNS, the number of friends and groups connected with, personal beliefs, and feeling about SNS. A notable association between the use of SNS and the mental health issues of users has been ascertained. The present study findings might have significant implications in the field of clinical psychology and psychotherapy. Therefore, we recommend more comprehensive clinical interventions to find the tangible impact of SNS on the mental health of users.