Online-offline : an exploratory study on the relationship between social media use and positive mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Most studies on the use of social media address the effects associated with excessive use, focusing on the length of time spent online. The motivations for using social media and the type of apps used are not always given due importance. This study focuses on the users’ emotional connections to social media and positive mental health. It investigates social media use as a normal behaviour used as part of a routine and also for social connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic. These constructs are measured using two scales, the Social Media Use scale and the Positive Mental Health scale. Other questions on types of social media apps used and the reasons why they are used are also asked. Data from a volunteer sample (n = 631) of Maltese adults of ages between 16 and 65+, showed that while there is no association between routine use of social media and positive mental health, there is a significant negative correlation between emotional connectedness of social media use and positive mental health. The data also showed that the negative association varies across age cohorts with younger people having less positive mental health scores. This study suggests that the link between social media use and positive mental health is more complex than just measuring time spent online and effects on mental health outcomes.