Examining The Impact Of Social Media On Mental Health Among Undergraduate Students In District Peshawar

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of social media usage on the mental health of undergraduate students in District Peshawar, focusing on depression, anxiety, and stress levels. Utilizing a sample of 367 students selected through multi-stage cluster sampling, data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and chi-square tests. The findings reveal that excessive social media use, particularly on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, significantly contributes to adverse mental health outcomes. Female students were found to be more vulnerable to severe depression, anxiety, and stress due to heightened engagement with visual content and social comparison. The study also highlights a significant association between frequent social media checking before bedtime and elevated levels of psychological distress. While platforms like WhatsApp showed minimal negative effects, others, such as Instagram, exacerbated mental health issues. The study concludes that unregulated social media usage poses serious risks to students’ mental well-being and calls for interventions, including mindful usage practices, educational awareness, platform-level policy changes, and institutional support systems. These findings underscore the need for a balanced approach to harness the benefits of social media while mitigating its detrimental effects on mental health.