PSY 321 Proposal Part 1 Worksheet

Research Proposal Part 1 Worksheet

Research Question and Reference List

1. What is your research question?

How does social media influence self-esteem on many young adults, which can lead to Social

Depression?

2. Why have you selected this research question?

The study subject on social media’s influence on young adults’ self-esteem and possible

contribution to social depression was selected due to rising concern about digital platforms’

impact on psychological well-being, especially in adolescence and early adulthood. This problem

originates from cultural change, as younger individuals use social media often. Numerous

research have connected social media usage to poor youth self-esteem. In 2021, 68% of 18-29-

year-olds utilized social media, mostly Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, according to Auxier

and Anderson (2021). Bozzola (2022) discovered that teens who spent more than three hours a

day on social media were more depressed.

The issue of social media, self-esteem in young people, and social depression is one that I

am interested in studying because of the increasing prevalence of the usage of social media.

Young people’s lives are increasingly dominated by these platforms, thus it’s crucial to

understand their mental health implications, particularly self-esteem. Social media bombards

teens with curated content, idealizing others’ lifestyles. Regular exposure to such material has

been associated to poor youth self-esteem in several studies (Abi-Jaoude et al., 2020).

Comparing yourself to well-designed online personas might damage self-esteem. US teenagers

and young adults reported more depressive symptoms after using social media, according to

Gupta et al. (2022). The relationship was highest among daily social media users over three

PSY 321 Proposal Part 1 Worksheet

hours. This statistical connection suggests studying how social media influences self-esteem and

mental health. The rising use of the phrase “social depression,” which refers to social isolation

and symptoms of sadness that are shown by the use of social media, makes it imperative that this

inquiry be carried out. To manage the harmful impacts of excessive social media usage in youth,

we must understand the complicated interaction between social media, self-esteem, and mental

health. The chosen research topic addresses a societal need to understand and solve digital age

mental health challenges.

3. How does this research question contribute to the field of psychology?

The study of the relationship between social media, self-esteem in young adults, and

social depression advances psychology by addressing a current and dynamic intersection that has

gained societal prominence and has a significant research gap. As social media permeates human

contact, its effects on mental health, particularly self-esteem, are understudied in psychology

(Abi-Jaoude et al., 2020). The present research aims to fill the gap by revealing how social media

affects young people’ self-esteem and mental health. While previous studies have touched on

related themes, the proposed research question examines the complex relationship between social

media use, self-perception, and social depression, providing a new perspective on a pressing

social issue. This study explores new psychological territory to better understand the relationship

between digital connectedness and psychological well-being, adding a vital and current layer to

the field.

PSY 321 Proposal Part 1 Worksheet

4. Watch the library video tutorial and complete the library worksheet.

PSY 321 Proposal Part 1 Worksheet

References

Abi-Jaoude, E., Naylor, K. T., & Pignatiello, A. (2020). Smartphones, Social Media Use and

Youth Mental Health. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 192(6), E136–E141.

National Library of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.190434

Auxier, B., & Anderson, M. (2021). Social media use in 2021. Pew Research Center; Pew

Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/04/07/social-media-use-in-

2021/

Bozzola, E. (2022). The use of social media in children and adolescents: Scoping review on the

potential risks. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,

19(16), 9960. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169960

Gupta, C., Jogdand, Dr. S., & Kumar, M. (2022). Reviewing the impact of social media on the

mental health of adolescents and young adults. Cureus, 14(10).

https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30143

Keles, B., McCrae, N., & Grealish, A. (2019). A systematic review: The influence of social

media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents. International

Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 79–93. Taylor & Francis Online.

https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1590851