The Effect of Social Media Exposure on the Mental Health of Individuals with Disabilities during the Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the mental health problems and social media exposure for individuals with disabilities, as well as explore whether this exposure could impact their mental health during the COVID-19 epidemic period. A hundred and twenty individuals with disabilities participated in this cross-sectional study, conducted in Taif, Saudi Arabia. We used an online questionnaire built through the translation of two scales, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 " GAD-7" and CES-D-10 scale assessing depression. The findings of this study underlined important messages for individuals with disabilities. First finding revealed that individuals with disabilities were almost half a day anxious, depressed, and frequently exposed to social media. Also, the information spread on social media had a significant effect on their anxiety level, but no significant effect was found on their depression level. Practical recommendations were highlighted to benefit these individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic period. We should use clear and accessible languages and health messages with individuals with disabilities. Health care providers should be exposed to an awareness program to reduce the racisms towards those individuals. Received: 8 March 2021 / Accepted: 23 June 2021 / Published: 8 July 2021