ON SOCIAL NETWORKS, DIGITAL MEDIA, AND MENTAL HEALTH

Wiadomości Lekarskie, VOLUME LXXV, ISSUE 11 PART 2, NOVEMBER 2022 © Aluna Publishing REVIEW ARTICLE ON SOCIAL NETWORKS, DIGITAL MEDIA, AND MENTAL HEALTH DOI: 10.36740/WLek202211222 Tetiana Danylova1,2, Svіtlana Storozhuk3, Viktor Vus1, Vitalii Shmarhun4, Nataliia Kryvda3, Olena Pavlova3, Svitlana Kholodynska5 1 INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY, NATIONAL ACADEMY OF EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES OF UKRAINE, KYIV, UKRAINE THE GRADUATE SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH, INSTITUTE OF PHILOSOPHY AND SOCIOLOGY OF THE POLISH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, WARSAW, POLAND 3 TARAS SHEVCHENKO NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF KYIV, KYIV, UKRAINE 4 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES OF UKRAINE, KYIV, UKRAINE 5 PRYAZOVSKYI STATE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY, MARIUPOL, UKRAINE 2 ABSTRACT The aim: The paper attempts to investigate the impact of social networks and digital media on mental health and psychological well-being. Materials and methods: The data collection was carried out using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar databases. Research papers were identified according to the search terms “cyberspace”, “cyberpsychology”, “digital media”, “virtual reality”, “social networks”, “mental health”, “psychological well-being”, “beauty”, “beauty standards”. The authors used integrative anthropological approach, interpretive research paradigm, and multidisciplinary analysis. Conclusion: The digital world is a relatively recent phenomenon, therefore, the potential relationship between its use and mental health and psychological well-being has not yet been adequately explored. Most of the research has been conducted over the last decades; and until now the scientific community has not been able to fully interpret the obtained results and come to final conclusions. As Timpano and Beard rightly pointed out, the future research should be focused on types and motivations for the use of social networks; identify potential mechanisms linking the social media use and mental health symptoms; reveal an impact of social networks on declines in face-to-face social interactions; understand the link of social networks with maladaptive coping strategies and health behaviors. The relationship between social networks, digital media use and psychological functioning is not straightforward and depends on many factors. However, we should not forget that there is nothing new under the sun. The same people act in both digital and physical spaces. And the psychological problems that are revealed in the digital universe are the same that “accompany” the actors of the digital communication process in the real, physical world. Anyway, we cannot avoid cyberspace, so we have to learn how to interact within this challenging world. KEY WORDS: cyberspace; cyberpsychology; digital media; virtual reality; social networks Wiad Lek. 2022;75(11 p2):2850-2854 INTRODUCTION Nowadays, psychology has entered a new era of its development. This is directly related to such a phenomenon as cyberspace – the space in which the digital dimension of modern human life has found its expression. As of April 2022, there were five billion active Internet users worldwide (63 % of the global population) and about 93 % of them were social media users [1]. Social media has become a platform for the exchange of information and ideas; and new technologies have had a significant impact on social interaction, learning, and behavior patterns of the users of the digital space [2]. The widespread access to information associated with always-on devices has led to the fact that technology has penetrated all spheres of life including the private sphere. The rapid development of the information space has paved the way for greater political participation, emergence of a large number of personal and professional networks, and flattening of hierarchy in many countries [3; 4]. As Friedman emphasizes, in the future the success will be determined by education, abilities, ingenuity, and access to the global communication system. This situation will 2850 radically change the conditions for the activities of those who live on the border with the “flat world” (the world permeated with horizontal structures that is more in line with the model of equal cooperation) [5]. In general, the ways we consume information and communicate with each other have fundamentally been changed [6; 7]. The worldwide spread of new technologies laid the foundation for a new branch of psychology – cyberpsychology, which aims to understand the psychological processes associated with all aspects and features of human behavior in cyberspace [8]. New science explores Internet personality and behavior; social media and psychological functioning of an individual; video games; telepsychology; virtual reality; artificial intelligence, etc. [9]. Among the many challenges cyberpsychology faces is the impact of social networks and digital media on mental health and psychological well-being. The complex and dynamic interaction of the individuals in the digital world requires thorough analysis and deep understanding. Numerous social contacts and virtual groups, exchange of opinions, self-expression on the In- ON SOCIAL NETWORKS, DIGITAL MEDIA, AND MENTAL HEALTH ternet where it is possible to present any ideal self-image have created a unique space that has become a “home” for billions of inhabitants of the planet Earth. There is a popular saying “Only love makes a house a home”, however, hoping to find warmth and comfort in the digital world, the users often encounter not love but demons there, demons such as stress, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, aggression, that is, everything they have tried to avoid in the real world [10]. Brooks [11], Cole, Nick, Varga, Smith [12], Nabi, Prestin, So [13], Boers, Afzali, Newton, Concord [14], Twenge, Joiner, Rogers, Martin [15], Wellman [16] have made a significant contribution to research. An ambiguous influence of social networks and digital media on the users has led to discussions among scientists. While some researchers consider its positive impact on mental health and psychological well-being, others emphasize the dangers of cyberspace. THE AIM The paper attempts to investigate the impact of social networks and digital media on mental health and psychological well-being. MATERIALS AND METHODS The data collection was carried out using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar databases. Research papers were identified according to the search terms “cyberspace”, “cyberpsychology”, “digital media”, “virtual reality”, “social networks”, “mental health”, “psychological well-being”, “beauty”, “beauty standards”. The authors used integrative anthropological approach, interpretive research paradigm, and multidisciplinary analysis. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION In recent years, the rapid spread of social networks has caused profound changes in the patterns of communication and interaction providing access to a unique platform for the exchange of ideas and connection with the whole world. This has contributed to the emergence of a “unified information space”, in which individuals have the opportunity to find themselves, realize their potential, and expand the boundaries of knowledge and communication. Undoubtedly, it has provided many advantages to individual members and the world community, but, like everything in the world, the new mode of communication has also revealed its reverse side manifested in the growth of depression, stress, anxiety, and a decrease in self-esteem among the active users of social networks. Recent research suggests that the long-term use of social networking sites such as Facebook may be associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Pantic et al. stated that the frequent use of Facebook and other social networks led to specific behavioral changes that negatively affected mental health. They established a relationship between the con- stant use of social networks and an increase in the level of depression [17]. According to Twenge and colleagues, time spent on screen activity correlates with increased severity of symptoms of depression and risk of suicide, although the positive correlation between social media use and mental disorders is significant only for girls [15]. Boers et al. stressed that the excessive use of social networks and TV by adolescents could increase symptoms of depression [14]. Brooks found that the frequent use of social networks “led to lower performance on the task, as well as higher levels of technostress and lower happiness” [11, p. 26]. Although it seems that social networks can satisfy an individual’s need for social connections, research conducted by Kross and colleagues suggests that Facebook use can undermine young people’s sense of well-being [18]. Lin et al. agree upon the idea that the widespread use of social media increases depression, especially among young people [19]. The researchers emphasize the influence of social networks on the spread of a negative body image, especially among women [20]. An acute problem related to traditional gender stereotypes is the ideal image, artificial beauty imposed by advertising media [21]. Cover girls act as ideal face and body models. Although users/consumers understand that these women are professional models who are paid to maintain physical shape, and modern technologies provide opportunities to “conceal” any flaws, they still try to achieve the ideal. The cult of beauty is as old as the world. Myths and fairy tales of our childhood continue to resonate with the perception of our adult personalities. Nowadays, the beauty myth, which has replaced the myths of home, motherhood, women passivity and obedience, is associated with the institutions of power that represent the male world and is used in a counterattack on the females. Wolf states, “Beauty is a currency system like the gold standard. Like any economy, it is determined by politics, and in the modern age in the West it is the last, best belief system that keeps male dominance intact. In assigning value to women in a vertical hierarchy according to a culturally imposed physical standard, it is an expression of power relations in which women must unnaturally compete for resources that men have appropriated for themselves” [22, p. 12]. Beauty takes women out of the structures of power and return them to the social space where men prefer to see them. Beauty is put on the market dominated by capitalism and patriarchy – they make money out of beauty and use it to maintain the status quo [20; 22]. The beauty ideal presented in advertisements send the message that an attractive appearance is the only aspect that matters in life. All achievements outside this sphere are insignificant. This leads to the fact that women who do not meet the standards consider themselves inferior, suffer from social anxiety, prejudice, and inequality [23]. Stress, inferiority complex, and envy towards conventional beauties negatively affect the psychosomatic health of women [24]. The influence of visual media, which portrays idealized faces and bodies, leads to a distortion of one’s own image [25]. The researchers demonstrated the 2851 Tetiana Danylova et al. powerful sociocultural influence of cyberspace on the lives of young women [26], as well as the connection between the active use of the Internet, especially social networks, and growing body dissatisfaction among teenage girls [27; 28]. The emphasis on the specific parts of the body leads to dehumanization, female objectivation, and self-objectivation [29]. Such trends are a real concern. The world’s obsession with the unattainable beauty standards over the past few decades has been accompanied by an increase in body dissatisfaction among both women and men [30], which entails dysfunctional eating behavior, distress, and depression [31]. Men also suffer from the imposed stereotypes – they should be “real men”. Hegemonic masculinity identifies itself with “common sense” and dominant ideology [32]. The images of men in media correspond to many aspects of traditional masculinity: physical strength, brutality, aggressiveness, dominance [33; 34]. Giaccardi and colleagues found that sports and reality TV viewing by college males was a predictor of adherence to the traditional masculinity ideology and its manifestation in interpersonal relationships [35; 36]. Depiction of athletic men and sports broadcasting confirm the paradigm of hegemonic masculinity and convince men that they must always fight for themselves and always win. In sports programs, strength, status, and endurance are primarily associated with masculinity. These programs glorify the athlete-superhero and justify his physical and verbal aggression. Strong and aggressive men are praised, while weak and passive representatives of the same sex do not “fit” into the category of heroes [37]. These “standards” are transferred to social networks. In male-dominated space including cyberspace, the standards of the alpha male do not allow a man to admit his real problems and be vulnerable; instead, he should represent a flawless Superman who would rather die than reveal his true feelings [38]. Prevailing cultural stereotypes of masculinity are directly related to the high level of depressive disorders and suicidal behavior of men who are not in line with the traditional system of expectations [39; 40]. Many people today are depressed due to the conflicts with others, layoffs, or serious illnesses, and excessive use of social media is a common factor that exacerbates this negative state. Active users of social media are most often exposed to the bad news, as far as news related to wars, natural disasters, terrorist acts, political crises, and deaths are always top news. It negatively affects mental health and leads to the development of increased anxiety and symptoms of depression. Lyall et al. found that the use of Facebook around bedtime increased the likelihood of developing major depressive disorder by 6% and decreased subjective happiness by 9% [41]. Aldao notes that such a situation locks us into a vicious circle of negativity: “the more time we spend scrolling, the more we find those dangers, the more we get sucked into them, the more anxious we get” [42]. Such trends are alarming because through this lens the world appears to be a very bleak place that makes consumers of negative information feel like they are in danger every day of their lives. 2852 The other voices are also heard in the cyberspace discourse. Jelenchick and colleagues stressed that they did not find sufficient evidence that supported a relationship between social networking site and depression: “counseling patients or parents regarding the risk of “Facebook Depression” may be premature” [43, p. 130]. Seabrook, Kern, and Rickard showed that the use of social media under the conditions of positive interaction, social support, and social connection reduced depression and anxiety, increased self-esteem and life satisfaction, while negative interactions and social comparisons were associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety [44]. Cole et al. found that the use of Twitter in the context of social support could reduce depression. In particular, a larger number of contacts and high activity on Twitter are especially useful for people who are limited in personal communication. The researchers note that the use of social networks has greater benefits for people with less social support [12]. CONCLUSION The digital world is a relatively recent phenomenon, therefore, the potential relationship between its use and mental health and psychological well-being has not yet been adequately explored. Most of the research has been conducted over the last decades; and until now the scientific community has not been able to fully interpret the obtained results and come to final conclusions. As Timpano and Beard rightly pointed out, the future research should be focused on types and motivations for the use of social networks; identify potential mechanisms linking the social media use and mental health symptoms; reveal an impact of social networks on declines in face-to-face social interactions; understand the link of social networks with maladaptive coping strategies and health behaviors [45]. The relationship between social networks, digital media use and psychological functioning is not straightforward and depends on many factors, such as the way it is used, communication patterns, emotional state, comorbidities, self-awareness, values, motivation, attitudes, and preferences. However, we should not forget that there is nothing new under the sun. The same people act in both digital and physical spaces. 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ORCID and сontributionship: Tetiana Danylova: 0000-0002-0297-9473 A, B, D, E, F Svіtlana Storozhuk 0000-0002-7947-6268 B, E, F Viktor Vus: 0000-0002-1042-5323 B, E, F Vitalii Shmarhun: 0000-0001-9727-5083 E, F Nataliia Kryvda 0000-0001-7429-769E E, F Olena Pavlova: 0000-0002-0593-1336 E, F Svitlana Kholodynska: 0000-0002-6746-135X E, F Conflict of interest: The Authors declare no conflict of interest CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Tetiana Danylova Institute of Social and Political Psychology, National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine The Graduate School for Social Research, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Nowy Świat 72, 00-330, Warsaw, Poland e-mail: [email protected] Received: 21.05.2022 Accepted: 15.10.2022 A – Work concept and design, B – Data collection and analysis, C – Responsibility for statistical analysis, D – Writing the article, E – Critical review, F – Final approval of the article Article published on-line and available in open access are published under Creative Common Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) 2854