Mental Well-being Of Young Adults Research Articles

Is Selfie Taking Behavior Beneficial for the Mental Wellbeing of Young Adults?

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether selfie taking behavior is beneficial for the mental well-being of young adults and to investigate the difference in psychological issues among people who like to take selfies and those who don’t. Two hundred participants were recruited in this study following convenience sampling technique. The Depression scale, Bangla version of the Self- Esteem scale, and Bangla version of the General Health Questionnaire -12 were used as instruments in this study. This study used t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation for analyzing data. Results showed that selfie taking behavior is negatively correlated with depression score which means more selfie taking leads to fewer depressive symptoms. It was also found that people who like to take selfies and post selfies more on social media have shown less depressive symptoms, better self-esteem and less psychological distress than the people who don’t like to take and post selfies. The results can be taken to indicate that people who like to take or post selfies more exhibit a better state of mental well-being and less psychological issues. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 33(2): 77-86, 2024 (July)

Rationale, Design, and Baseline Characteristics of Participants in the Health@NUS mHealth Augmented Cohort Study Examining Student-to-Work Life Transition: Protocol for a Prospective Cohort Study.

Integration of mobile health data collection methods into cohort studies enables the collection of intensive longitudinal information, which gives deeper insights into individuals' health and lifestyle behavioral patterns over time, as compared to traditional cohort methods with less frequent data collection. These findings can then fill the gaps that remain in understanding how various lifestyle behaviors interact as students graduate from university and seek employment (student-to-work life transition), where the inability to adapt quickly to a changing environment greatly affects the mental well-being of young adults. This paper aims to provide an overview of the study methodology and baseline characteristics of participants in Health@NUS, a longitudinal study leveraging mobile health to examine the trajectories of health behaviors, physical health, and well-being, and their diverse determinants, for young adults during the student-to-work life transition. University students were recruited between August 2020 and June 2022 in Singapore. Participants would complete biometric assessments and questionnaires at 3 time points (baseline, 12-, and 24-month follow-up visits) and use a Fitbit smartwatch and smartphone app to continuously collect physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep, and dietary data over the 2 years. Additionally, up to 12 two-week-long bursts of app-based ecological momentary surveys capturing lifestyle behaviors and well-being would be sent out among the 3 time points. Interested participants (n=1556) were screened for eligibility, and 776 participants were enrolled in the study between August 2020 and June 2022. Participants were mostly female (441/776, 56.8%), of Chinese ethnicity (741/776, 92%), undergraduate students (759/776, 97.8%), and had a mean BMI of 21.9 (SD 3.3) kg/m2, and a mean age of 22.7 (SD 1.7) years. A substantial proportion were overweight (202/776, 26.1%) or obese (42/776, 5.4%), had indicated poor mental well-being (World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index ≤50; 291/776, 37.7%), or were at higher risk for psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale ≥13; 109/776, 14.1%). The findings from this study will provide detailed insights into the determinants and trajectories of health behaviors, health, and well-being during the student-to-work life transition experienced by young adults. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05154227; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05154227. DERR1-10.2196/56749.

Digital resilience: Understanding the influence of social media and support networks on university students' isolation during COVID-19

The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread social isolation measures, potentially exacerbating mental health issues, especially among young adults. This demographic, known for its high social media usage, faces increased risk of negative mental health outcomes such as isolation and depression. This study explores how social media engagement and social support seeking mediate the relationship between age and social isolation symptoms during the pandemic. Using a qualitative research methodology, data was collected from twenty university students in Pakistan through semi-structured interviews. The interviews delved into various aspects including depressive symptoms, loneliness, coping mechanisms, and changes in daily routines due to the pandemic. The analysis reveals that university students experienced greater levels of loneliness compared to older age groups. Additionally, they exhibited increased use of social media platforms while seeking less social support. These findings highlight the mental health implications of fear and isolation during a global pandemic, both in Pakistan and in other countries. The study underscores the importance of targeted interventions to address the mental well-being of young adults during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

The Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility in the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Mental Well-Being in Young Adults

The Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility in the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Mental Well-Being in Young Adults

Career Anxiety and Mental Well Being of Young Adults

This research investigated the relationship between career anxiety and mental well-being. The aim was to understand the impact of career anxiety on mental well-being of young adults. The study sample consisted of young adults, and the results revealed significant and negative associations between career anxiety and mental well-being. Regression analysis indicated that career anxiety significantly predicted mental well-being. Further research is needed to address limitations and explore additional factors influencing the relationships.

The change in aesthetic experience and empathic concern predicts theory of mind ability: Evidence from drama improvisation training

Drama improvisation is recognized for its benefits in the Western context, particularly in enhancing performers’ social awareness and interaction skills. However, there is a gap in evidence from diverse cultural backgrounds, and few studies have examined the dynamic shifts in individuals before and after brief drama improvisation training. In this study, first-year Chinese college students not majoring in arts underwent a semester-long training encompassing six modules related to drama improvisation. The participants’ social anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, intentional self-regulation, and aesthetic experience were measured pre- and post-training. Notably, the training was observed to reduce students’ social anxiety and elevate their flow experience—a state marked by deep concentration, pleasure, and heightened focus. The change in the flow experience and the empathic concern, predicted one’s theory of mind. These findings suggest that drama improvisation training can potentially bolster mental well-being in young adults, alter their aesthetic experiences, and enhance their socio-communicative skills, fostering creative thinking within the Chinese cultural framework.

Perceived Stress, Poor Sleep Quality, and Mental Well-being in Young Adults

This study intended to identify the correlation between perceived stress (PS), Poor sleep quality (PSQ), and mental health. The hypothesis indicated that there could be a link between PS, PSQ, and mental well-being in young people. A sample of 488 young adults aged between 19 and 25 years (M = 20.38 and SD = 1.76), men (n = 244) and women (n = 244), was obtained from different private and government sector universities. Convenience sampling strategy: Participants were approached and data was collected. PS, PSQ, and mental well-being were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PS Scale, and Warwick. The Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. Pearson product-moment correlation and moderation analysis using AMOS were used to test the hypotheses. Additional finding t-tests were used for independent samples. The study found that PS was positively connected with PSQ but unfavourably linked with mental well-being. Further research revealed substantial differences in young adults' feelings of stress, poor sleep, and mental health based on gender, university, and family structure.

Impact of Social Networks on Mental Well-Being of Young Adults

Impact of Social Networks on Mental Well-Being of Young Adults

The Relationship between Social Media Usage and Mental Well-Being among Young Adults

Background: The use of social media has grown rapidly over the past decennium and a half, however, not much research is conducted on it to identify its correlation with mental well-being and its effects. Aim: To determine the correlation between social media usage and mental well-being in young adults. Study design: Cross Sectional study. Methodology: Data was collected using convenient sampling. This study includes a sample size of 215 young adults, 108 men, and 107 women, from two universities in Lahore, Pakistan, aged between 18 -25 years. Two instruments were used in this study to measure the variables, the Social Networking Usage questionnaire, and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. Data was evaluated by using SPSS version 24. Pearson’s correlation and independent sample t-test were applied with p-value < 0.05 as significant. Results: Findings indicated a significant positive relationship between all dimensions of social media usage including academic, socialization, entertainment, and information. High mean scores indicated that research participants mostly use social media for academic purposes. There was not a statistically significant relationship that could be seen between social media usage and mental well-being. Gender differences were found only related to mental well-being where men scored high as compared to women with a significance of 0.01 level. Practical Implication: Present study results raised the idea of examining other mediating or moderating factors between the connection between social media platforms usage and mental well-being. Not only the time but the content and purpose of social media should also be considered while establishing the direction of the relationship. Conclusion: It was concluded that young adults’ use of social media has not an inverse connection with mental health, and they mostly use it for academic purposes. However, men and women are different on the mental well-being scale, and men with high well-being reported for the present sample. Key words: Social Media, Correlation, Mental Well-Being, Depression and Self-Esteem.

Religious coping and young adult's mental well-being during Covid-19: Testing a double moderated mediation model.

The literature describes religious coping as an important predictor of mental well-being. Present study is aimed at extending this knowledge by assessing whether specific religious coping regulates specific cognitive emotional responses to improve well-being during Covid pandemic, an extreme international event with significant impacts on individuals and communities. A sample of young adults responded to self-report measures of negative and positive religious coping, positive reappraisal, self-blaming, and mental well-being. Results revealed that positive religious coping was a positive predictor of mental well-being and positive reappraisal mediated this positive link. Also, gender and physical health status significantly interacted with positive reappraisal to predict mental well-being in these mediational associations. More specifically, indirect effects of positive reappraisal were positive and significant for men and for participants with better physical health compared with women and those with poor physical health. However, negative religious coping was not a significant correlate of mental well-being but a positive correlate of self-blame. Results suggest that positive religious coping facilitates positive regulation of emotions for improved mental well-being in young adults and particularly young men.

Remembering for resilience: Brief cognitive-reminiscence therapy improves psychological resources and mental well-being in young adults.

Reminiscence‐based interventions focus on the recall of autobiographical memories and reflective reasoning about these remembered experiences. This study assessed the effect of a three‐session, positive‐memory version of cognitive‐reminiscence therapy (CRT) on the psychological resources and mental well‐being of young adults. The participants (N = 62, M age = 24.6 [SD = 3.1], 71% females) were randomised to CRT or wait‐list. Psychological resources (self‐esteem, self‐efficacy, meaning in life and optimism), mental well‐being (depression, anxiety and stress symptoms) and theorised change processes (automatic negative thoughts, awareness of narrative identity and cognitive reappraisal) were assessed. The results showed the CRT group was significantly higher on psychological resources at post‐CRT (d = 0.75–0.80) and follow‐up (d = 0.52–0.87) and mental well‐being at post‐intervention (d = 0.71–1.30) and follow‐up (d = 0.64–0.98). The hypotheses regarding change processes were supported. Future research may use an active comparator and include a longer follow‐up, given only short‐term effects were assessed. Brief, positive‐focused CRT is effective in increasing psychological resources and mental well‐being in young adults.

Psychological maltreatment and college student mental wellbeing: A uni and multi-dimensional effect of positive perception

As a form of child abuse, exposure to psychological maltreatment in childhood has adverse impacts on adolescents and young adults. Although psychological maltreatment is linked with decreased wellbeing, some protective factors such as positive perception including a positive view of self-abilities, self in past, and human nature of young adults may ultimately be more influencing in mental wellbeing among young adults. Using a sample of 421 young adults (65% female; M=20.72 SD=1.06) from Turkey, we tested the role of a positive perspective on the association between psychological maltreatment and mental wellbeing. Findings revealed that psychological maltreatment had a significant predictive effect on positive perception and mental wellbeing. Positive perception also mediated the adverse impact of psychological maltreatment on young adults’ mental wellbeing. Additionally, results showed that positive perception had a buffering effect on the association between maltreatment and mental wellbeing. Clinical implications were discussed to help the mental health providers to improve the mental wellbeing of young adults.

A Differential Threshold of Breakfast, Caffeine and Food Groups May Be Impacting Mental Well-Being in Young Adults: The Mediation Effect of Exercise.

Diet and exercise are known to influence mental health. However, the interaction between diet, dietary practices, and exercise and its impact on the mood of young adults (YA) is poorly understood. YA are inherently at risk for mental distress. They tend to consume a low-quality diet and are generally active. The purpose of the study was to assess these relationships through validating causal loop diagrams (CLD) that describe these connections by using a system dynamic (SD) modeling methodology. Adults 18–29 years were invited to complete the Food-Mood questionnaire. The anonymous questionnaire link was distributed to several institutional listservs and via several social media platforms targeting young adults. A multi-level analysis, including machine learning techniques, was used to assess these relationships. The key findings were then built into gender based CLD, which suggest that a differential repertoire may be needed to optimize diet quality, exercise, and mental well-being. Additionally, a potential net threshold for dietary factors and exercise may be needed to achieve mental well-being in young adults. Moreover, our findings suggest that exercise may boost the enhancing effect of food groups on mental well-being and may lessen the negative impact of dietary impediments of mental well-being.

Social media use impacts body image and eating behavior in pregnant women

Social media (SM) use may have detrimental effects on the physical and mental wellbeing of young adults, including body image dissatisfaction (BID) and changes in dietary behavior. This issue may be of particular concern in pregnant women since adequate dietary behavior is essential during pregnancy for the health of the mother and fetus. The present study aimed to investigate how SM use and posting as well as dependence on technological devices relate to body image and dietary behavior in pregnant women. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. A sample of 192 Lebanese pregnant women (29.6 ± 6.2 years old) completed a self-report questionnaire assessing the aforementioned variables. SM usage and posting were both associated with healthy eating behaviors (p = 0.049 and p = 0.03 respectively). On the other hand, SM posting was associated with higher negative body image scores (p = 0.04), postnatal image concerns (p = 0.02), as well as competitiveness with regard to the pregnant body (p = 0.02). Also, dependence on technological devices and internet was associated with higher negative body image scores (p < 0.001), postnatal image concerns (p < 0.001) and increased anxiousness towards the pregnant body (p = 0.02). While SM use and posting are associated with healthy eating behaviors, SM posting and dependence on technological devices are also associated with increased appearance comparison and BID in pregnant women. The present study adds to the growing evidence supporting a significant impact of SM use on physical and mental wellbeing, emphasizing potential deleterious effects during pregnancy. Practical implications are discussed in terms of media literacy interventions and recommendations for healthcare team members to improve maternal counselling and support by encouraging healthy body image, diet and lifestyle behaviors during pregnancy.

A Longitudinal Examination of the Association Between Meaning in Life, Resilience, and Mental Well-Being in Times of Coronavirus Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease possesses an important threat to people's health and well-being. The purpose of the present study is to longitudinally examine whether meaning in life before the pandemic increases resilience and mental well-being during the coronavirus pandemic. The sample of the study comprised 172 young adults (72% women) in a public university in an urban city of Turkey. Participants ranged in age between 18 and 40 years (M = 20.87, SD = 3.92). Mediation analyses were performed to examine the impacts of meaning in life on the outcomes across the two waves of data. Findings from these analyses revealed that meaning in life before the pandemic had a significant predictive effect on resilience and mental well-being of young adults during the coronavirus disease. Resilience also mediated the impacts of meaning in life on mental well-being indicators at the second time. These results suggest the importance of meaning-based preventions and interventions designed to build up resilience experiences for improving psychological health and well-being during a public health crisis.

Smartphone interactions and mental well-being in young adults: A longitudinal study based on objective high-resolution smartphone data.

Aims: To investigate the effects of objectively measured smartphone interactions on indicators of mental well-being among men and women in a population of young adults. Methods: A total of 816 young adults (mean±SD age 21.6±2.6 years; 77% men) from the Copenhagen Network Study were followed with objective recordings of smartphone interactions from calls, texts and social media. Participants self-reported on loneliness, depressive symptoms and disturbed sleep at baseline and in a four-month (interquartile range 75-163 days) follow-up survey. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the association between smartphone interactions and mental well-being separately for men and women. Results: A higher number of smartphone interactions was associated with lower levels of loneliness at baseline and the same pattern appeared for depressive symptoms, although this was less pronounced. A high level of smartphone interaction was associated with lower levels of disturbed sleep for men, but not for women. In follow-up analyses, a high versus low level of smartphone interaction was associated with an increase in loneliness and depressive symptoms over time for women, but not for men. Conclusions: Smartphone interactions are related to better mental well-being, which may be attributed to the beneficial effects of an underlying social network. Over time, accommodating a large network via smartphone communication might, however, have negative effects on mental well-being for women.

Online Social Networking and Its Effects on Young Adults

This paper analyzes the relationship between the excessive use of social networking sites and physical and mental well-being of young adults. The first part of the paper reveals the physical and mental health concerns resulting in the excessive use of social networking sites. The second part of the paper uncovers the reasons why negative health impacts are associated with the excessive use of these social platforms. The third part of the paper addresses the possible solutions to minimize the negative health effects from the excessive use of social networking sites.

Flourishing: Factors associated with positive mental health among young adults with neuropsychiatric disorders

Young people with Asperger's syndrome and/or ADHD face major challenges in their lives affecting their quality of life and general well-being.The aim of this study was to investigate factors that associate with positive mental health (flourishing) among young adults with neuropsychiatric disorders.The sample consisted of 188 young adults with diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome (AS) (F84.5) and/or ADHD/ADD (F90). They participated in the one-year “My Way” rehabilitation programme organized and funded by the social insurance institution of Finland. Baseline questionnaires included measures on positive mental health (SWEMWBS), provisions of social relationships (SPS), social competence (MASC) and questions about functional capacity and leisure time activities. Information on diagnosis was received from doctors’ statements.Of the study participants, 35% had a comorbid mood, anxiety or stress-related disorder (F30-F40). Among those, 14% had low, 79% moderate and 7% high positive mental health (flourishing). Higher rate of physical activity was associated with flourishing. Furthermore, flourishing was associated with high level of provisions of social relationships, social competence as well as good general functional capacity. No association was found with engagement in employment or education, or having the diagnosis of AS, ADHD/ADD or a comorbid psychiatric disorder (F30–F40).People with psychiatric disorders experience high positive mental health, too. Social relations, social competence and general functional capacity play an important role in mental well-being of young adults with neuropsychiatric disorders. Supporting them may help in reaching also other goals set for the rehabilitation, such as capacity to work or study.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Restorative places or scary spaces? The impact of woodland on the mental well-being of young adults

In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in mental health problems amongst young adults in the UK, prompting the British Government to seek to identify services and preventative measures to combat the problem. At the same time, the policy agenda around woodland has shifted away from the agro-forestry agenda that dominated much of the late 20th century toward the development of ‘social forestry’, defined in terms of multi-purpose, multi-benefit woodland that can contribute to an enhanced quality of life and well-being. Against this background of change and policy response, this paper examines the extent to which childhood experiences of play—particularly in wooded landscapes—may influence access to woodland in young adulthood, and the potential implications for their health and mental well-being. Engaging with notions of restoration and therapeutic landscapes literatures, the paper maintains that we cannot accept uncritically the notion that the natural environment is therapeutic. Indeed, from this paper it is clear that a range of influences acts to shape young people's relationship with woodland environments, but not all of these influences do so in positive ways.