Mental Health (Depression)

Article 1

Lin, L. Y., Sidani, J. E., Shensa, A., Radovic, A., Miller, E., Colditz, J. B., … & Primack, B. A. (2016). Association between social media use and depression among US young adults. Depression and anxiety, 33(4), 1-9.

Main:  This article aims at offering a comprehensive understanding about the way social media contribute to depression. To illustrate, this study reveals that there is significant and strong relationship between the use of online platform and depression particularly among the American   young adults. 

Notes:

1. Evidence for my first topic: The social media depletes the social bonding as well as causing distorted belief and elicit feelings.

“For example, passive consumption of social media content—as opposed to active communication—has been associated with decrease in bonding and bridging social capital and increase in loneliness. One explanation may be that exposure to highly idealized representations of peers on social media elicits feelings of envy and the distorted belief that others lead happier and/or more successful lives” (Page. 6. Par. 3).

2. Evidence for my second topic: Addiction to internet increases the level of psychiatric issues associated with depression.

“Additionally, the substantial rise in the amount of time young individuals spend on the Internet—particularly on social media—has led some to call for the recognition of “Internet addiction” as a distinct psychiatric condition that is closely associated with depression” (Page. 6. Par. 3).

3. Evidence for my third topic: Social media contribute to cyber-bullying, a thing that causes depression among the victims.

“… it is possible that increased social media exposure may increase the risk of cyber-bullying, which may also increase feelings of depression” (Page. 6. Par. 3).

Article connection:  Basically, this article revolves around the ways into which social media cause depression among the youths. Conversely, the content of this article aligns with the article by Revathy et al. (2018) that indicate that social media may also reduce the self-esteem of online users, hence, causing depression. 

Article 2

Revathy, V. R., Aram, I. A., & Sharmila, V. S. (2018). Social media as a means to overcome stress and depression among women. Journal of Media and Communication Studies, 10(6), 46-64.

Main: This articles reveals that social media acts as mean of overcoming depressing and stress among the women. In particular, there is confidential information denoting that social media sites help people to interact with each, hence, facilitating the dissemination of helpful information that is useful in fighting depression among other mental-based illness. 

Notes:

1. Evidence for my first topic: Social media offer a platform for sharing significant information. 

“Social media offers an ambient understanding of instant connection with the public and for the interactive spreading of vital information.  While social networking can help strengthen guest loyalty and satisfaction, it can also lead to unfair negativity, inaccurate information and undue criticism” (Page. 47. Par. 3)

2. Evidence for second topic: Social media enables people with low self-esteem to share inter-personal challenges and encouraging each other. 

“…social networking sites like Facebook represent a potentially valuable means for individuals with low self-esteem or inter-personal difficulties to connect with others” (Page. 49. Par. 3). “The  benefits  of  using  online technologies  were  reported  as  increased  self-esteem, perceived  social  support,  increased  social  capital,  safe identity  experimentation  and  increased  opportunity  for self-disclosure” (page. 49. Par. 4). 

3. Evidence for third topic: Social media act as an educative sites since it contains information about the best ways of coping up with stress. 

“Facebook  users  of  women  discussed  stress  and depression  regarding  their  physical  health  and  their lifestyle.  The majority (65%) of the users suggested traditional methods such as physical exercises and yoga to overcome stress and depression. Traditional remedies offer  the  easiest  and  compact  ways  to  give  solutions, particularly  of  self-help,  without  the  face-to-face consultation  with  health  specialists” (Page. 54. Par. 4). 

Article connection: This article offers a comprehensive understanding about the way different persons uses social media, hence, being able to handle stress and depression. Comparatively, this context align with the Lin et al. (2016)’s article, which state that social media can help depressed people to boost their self-esteem. 

References

Lin, L. Y., Sidani, J. E., Shensa, A., Radovic, A., Miller, E., Colditz, J. B., … & Primack, B. A. (2016). Association between social media use and depression among US young adults. Depression and anxiety, 33(4), 1-9.

Revathy, V. R., Aram, I. A., & Sharmila, V. S. (2018). Social media as a means to overcome stress and depression among women. Journal of Media and Communication Studies, 10(6), 46-64.