Correlations between social media use patterns and mental well-being of undergraduates

Absztrakt (kivonat)

This study aimed to obtain the correlation between the mental well-being of undergraduates and the frequency of education related news consumption. SPSS was used for data analysis in independent sample tests, correlation coefficient tests, and figures collected from online surveys. 146 online surveys were collected. The data analysis revealed significant correlation between the frequency of education related news consumption and mental well-being aspect of comparison for male respondents, respondents within the age range of 19 to 24, and respondents within the age range of 35 or below, and anxiety for male respondents within the age range of 19 to 24, and respondents within the age range of 25 to 30. Thence, it is recommended to reduce the frequency of education related news to lower the negative influences on mental well-being. Unanswered questions are if other more detailed sample groups with certain age range and gender that have not been investigated for this study have correlation between education related news’ consumption and mental well-being due to insufficient sample size, if sample groups with correlation of mental well-being have relation with certain Chinese culture aspect, and if respondents that did not have correlation between mental well-being and education related news consumption get used to education related news, but these news cause negative influences on them previously before they get used to it. For further studies, more respondents are required to be separated into more detailed sample groups of gender and age for analysis and questions regarding Chinese cultural aspects should be set. Literature of information revolution histories, mass communication, media, and influences of mass media were stated in the study. Findings of studies related to media news and television news’ influences on individuals were used for the discussion. These findings applied contained similarities and contradictions on mental well-being or perspectives compared with this study’s result. This study wanted to increase the awareness of education related news’ effect on undergraduates’ mental well-being, especially news that has higher possibility to cause negative influences on mental well-being.