The association between virtual reality-based social media and its effects on depression and social isolation compared to traditional social media users

Butuc, Alexandru Stefan (2023) The association between virtual reality-based social media and its effects on depression and social isolation compared to traditional social media users. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

This study investigates the difference between virtual reality-based social media and traditional social media concerning mental health, specifically depression, loneliness and social isolation while investigating whether time spent on social media impacts mental health. Research has shown a relationship between social media use and adverse mental health, and this study sought to explore these findings concerning virtual reality social media. A total of 96 participants completed measures of depression (PHQ9), loneliness (UCLA3), Berkman-Syme Social Network Index (BSSNI), social media use, and virtual reality social platform use. Findings from the t-test showed no significant difference between social isolation and depression. At the same time, it did find a higher mean loneliness for virtual reality social media users than traditional social media users. Correlational analyses showed a significant positive correlation between depression and social media use. However, there was no difference between virtual reality social media users and traditional social media users. The results of this study suggest that social media use may be associated with increased depression, whereas virtual reality social platform use may be associated with increased loneliness. These findings have important implications for the potential benefits and drawbacks of different forms of social media use on mental health.

Item Type:	Thesis (Undergraduate)
Supervisors:	Name Email O'Brien, Fearghal UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA790 Mental Health Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > ZA Information resources > ZA4150 Computer Network Resources > The Internet > World Wide Web > Websites > Online social networks T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering > Telecommunications > The Internet > World Wide Web > Websites > Online social networks T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) > Systems engineering > Simulation methods > Mathematical models > Computer simulation > Virtual reality
Divisions:	School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User:	Tamara Malone
Date Deposited:	31 May 2023 15:43
Last Modified:	31 May 2023 15:43
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/6692

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