A Study to determine the Impact of Social networking Sites on Mental Health of female Adolescents in Smpu College, Dharwad.

 

Mr. Nagesh V A¹, Prof. David A Kola²

¹Lecturer, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute of Nursing Sciences, Dharwad.

²Principal, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute of Nursing Sciences, Dharwad

 

ABSTRACT:

 

 

 

 

BACK GROUND OF THE STUDY:

‘THE BEST SIGN OF A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP IS NOT SIGN OF IT ON FACEBOOK.’

The term mental health means a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.¹

 

The term social networking sites defines the web-based social connections between people who share interests and activities in common; the use of social media websites to connect with others.²

 

There has been a growing concern over the past couple of decades regarding the link between social media use and mental health issues. Although research findings identify a connection between increased social media use in the young adult population and increased mental health problems in the same population.³

 

During the past 10 years, the rapid development of social networking sites (SNSs) such as Face book, Twitter, MySpace, and so on has caused several profound changes in the way people communicate and interact. Face book, as the biggest social networking Web site⁴

 

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

A recent poll examining adolescent‘ use of social media found that 90% of adolescent under the age of 18 have used some form of social media (e.g., Face book, Twitter, Google+) in their lifetime, and 75% of all adolescents have at least one active social networking profile.⁵

 

Online social networking may have benefits for those who find face-to-face contact difficult such as those who are shy or introverted. Never the less, cyber bullying and inappropriate use of personal information have been identified as problems ⁶

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS:

Determine:

In this study ,determine refers to find out the impact of social networking sites and mental health problems among female adolescents.

 

Impact:

In this study, impact refers to the effect of usage of social networking sites and mental health problems among female adolescents.

 

Social networking:

In this study social networking refers to the web-based social connections between people who share interests and activities in common;the use of social media websites to connect with others.

 

Mental health:

In this study mental health refers to a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.

 

Female adolescents:

In this study female adolescents refers to the girls between the ages of 13 and 18 years old, who are studying in II PUC science.

 

ASSUMPTIONS:

Female adolescents have some knowledge regarding usage of social networking sites can cause behavioral changes.

 

Female adolescents are prone to develop mental health symptoms related to impact of social networking sites.

 

DELIMITATIONS:

·      The study is delimited to female adolescents in selected PU college at Dharwad.

·      The time duration for the study is 2 weeks.

·      The study is limited to II year PU science students.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

SOURCES OF DATA:

Primary data:

The data will be collected from the female adolescents who are studying in the SMPU college Dharwad.

 

Secondary data:

Journals, books, research studies, internet etc.

 

METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION:

Research design: Non experimental correlation design.

 

VARIABLES:

Study variables: Social networking sites and mental health.

 

Demographic variables: Age, degree, mode of communication, number of social networking site using, duration of the usage of social networking sites.

 

Setting: S.M.P.U college Dharwad

 

Population: consist of 12^th standard female students from S.M.P.U College Dharwad.

 

Sampling technique: Non probability purposive sampling technique.

 

Sample size: 60 adolescent girls.

 

Duration of study: two Weeks.

 

Inclusion criteria:

·      Female adolescents studying in SMPU college, Dharwad

·      Between the ages of 13-18 years of age

·      Who are active in using the social networking sites

·      Present at the time of collection of data.

·      Who are willing to participate.

 

Exclusion criteria:

·        Other than the age group.

·        Who are not using any social networking sites

·        Who are not willing to participate in the study

 

DESCRIPTION OF TOOL:

Instruments intended to be used:

Part 1- Demographic variables such as age, degree, mode of communication, number of social networking sites using, duration of the usage of social networking sites.

 

Part 2- Checklist consist of responses were graded in 2 point scale and yes/no type questions.

 

Part 3-Checklist consist of responses were graded in 4 point scale and objective type questions (never, rare, sometimes, always).

 

The content of the literature is divided into:

·      Literature related to usage of social networking sites

·      Literature related to influence of social networking sites on mental health

·      Literature related to impact of social networking sites on mental health

 

PILOT STUDY:

Pilot study is the small version of trial run of major study. its function is to obtain information of behaving the project or for assessing feasibility. After obtaining formal approval from SMPU college Dharwad, pilot study was conducted on 6 sample.

·      Data was collected from 6 adolescent girls who studying in SMPU College Dharwad, who fulfilled the criteria, set for selection of sample.

·      The purpose of the study was explained and consent was taken from respondent prior to study to get cooperation and prompt answers.

·      Study was conducted on 16-5-2017 by administering the tool. The average time taken for study was 15 minutes.

 

The purpose of the study was to;

·      Obtain information of behaving the project or for assessing the feasibility.

·      Find validity and reliability of the instrument.

·      Determine the method of statistical analysis.

 

 

 

DATA COLLECION:

Data was collected by the investigators on structured checklist with the respondent who fitted the criteria of the study. Appropriate orientation was given to the adolescent girls about the aim of the study, nature of the study, and the purpose of the questionnaire. Adequate care was taken to protect the subject from potential risk including maintain confidentiality, secrecy and identity. A formal written permission was obtained from the principal of SMPU College Dharwad to conduct the study. Self introduction was given by the investigator to the sample and the purpose of the study was explained. The students assured them anonymity and confidentiality. The number of samples selected were 60 from adolescent girls who using social networking sites and it took about 30 minutes.

 

PLAN FOR DATA ANALYSIS:

Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data:

·      Frequency and percentage for selected personal variables.

·      Mean, median, standard deviation for usage of social networking sites and mental health status of female adolescents.

·      To assess the correlation between usage of social networking sites and mental health status of female adolescents.

 

RESULTS:

ORGANIZATION OF FINDING:

This section presents the analysis and interpretation of data collected from college students in Dharwad. The present study was designed to determine the impact of social networking sites on mental health of female adolescents in S.M.P.U College Dharwad. Data collected in this study were tabulated, analyzed and interpreted by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The analysis of data is organized under the following section

 

Section 1: Description of the baseline variables. Frequency and percentage Distribution according to their personal variables.

Section 2: Deals with the assessment of college students regarding usage of social Networking site

Section 3: Deals with the assessment of mental health of college students.

Section 4: Deals with correlation between the usage of social networking sites and mental  Health of college students.

 

SECTION 1: DESCRIPTION OF THE BASELINE VARIABLES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS:

The total of each 60 P U college student were selected. The data obtained was presented in frequencies and percentages. The demographic variables such as age, degree, mode of communication, number of social networking site using, duration of the usage of social networking sites.

 

TABLE:-1Demographic variable, frequency and percentage distribution of female adolescents

Personal variables	Frequency	Percentage
Age a) 13-15 yrs b) 15-18 yrs	0 60	0% 100%
Degree a) High school b) Higher education	0 60	0% 100%

 

SECTION 2 AND 3

 

TABLE: 2-_{Mean, median, standard deviation and range of usage of social networking sites}

Mean	Median	Sd	Maximum Score	Minimum Score
10	10	3.06	18	2

 

TABLE 3-_{Mean, median, standard deviation and range of mental health of female adolescents.}

Mean	Median	S.d	Maximum Score	Minimum Score
16	15	7.05	33	4

 

SECTION 4:

TO CORRELATE USAGE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES AND MENTAL HEALTH OF FEMALE ADOLESCENTS.

 

_{TABLE: 4}

Usage of social networking sites	0.046	0.729
Mental health status

 

The calculated value (0.046) is less than the table value 0.729, which shows there is no significant relationship between usage of social networking sites and mental health status of female adolescents

 

CONCLUSION:

Social network sites have increased substantially in popularity in our society where the majority of users are adolescents. Social network sites are various web-based platforms that enable individuals to create profiles, interact with friends and family, share photos and information, play games, and chat through instant messaging. Whereas adolescence is a vulnerable period to susceptibility to various social influences it is important to examine the effects social network sites may have.

 

Hence the study concluded that there is no correlation between the usage of social networking sites and mental health status of female adolescents.

 

 

 

RERFERENCES:

1.       World Health Organization, Mental health: a state of well-being, Available from: www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental-health/en/

2.       Social networking sites, Available from: https//en.m.wikipedia.org.

3.       American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition, text revision (DSM-IV-TR). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

4.       Amy L. Pittenger, The Use of Social Networking to Improve the Quality of Intra professional Education, American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2013; 77 (8) Article 174.

5.       Bonior, A. (2011, April 30). The suicidal Face book status: Social networking as a new Opportunity for prevention. Psychology Today. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/friendship-20/201104/the-suicidal-facebookstatus

6.       The Social and Psychological Impact of Online Social Networking, Australian Psychological Society National Psychology Week Survey 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Received on 09.11.2017           Modified on 18.01.2018

Accepted on 02.03.2018     © A&V Publications all right reserved