Presentation
The Impact of Perceived Stress on Social Media Use: A Mediation Analysis Across Multiple Platforms and Motivations.
DescriptionSocial media (SM) is a major part of daily life, offering benefits and challenges to mental health. This study explores how motivations for SM use, such as escapism, inclusion, and relaxation, mediate the relationship between perceived stress and engagement across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter (X), and Snapchat. Using survey data from 259 undergraduate students, we found that perceived stress alone did not predict higher SM use. Instead, individuals experiencing more stress were more likely to engage with SM for emotional relief and connection. Escapism and relaxation were the strongest motivational pathways, suggesting that stressed individuals turn to SM not merely out of habit, but to cope with emotional demands. Motivations differed slightly across platforms, with escapism more strongly tied to visual platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. These findings highlight why individuals use SM matters more than how much they use it when it comes to stress-related behaviors. Understanding these motivational patterns can help design healthier digital environments and support users in managing online engagement. This work advances human-centered approaches to digital well-being by emphasizing the role of motivation in shaping social media experiences under stress.
Event Type
Lecture
TimeFriday, October 17th8:40am - 9am CDT
LocationGrand Hall M/N
Communications
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