Chapter 6

Summary, Implications and

Conclusion
 Chapter 6

Summary, Implications and Conclusion

Summary

The researcher's goal in this study is to examine and compare online social networking

addiction and mental health of adolescent students of age group 10-19 years amid the Covid-

19 pandemic, which has been identified as a pressing necessity. There has been no earlier

research that has looked into the relationship between mental health and online social

networking addiction among the adolescent students of Kerala, using the same instruments

used, amid a Pandemic situation, especially Covid-19. To achieve this goal, the researcher

did the research with zeal and care, so that a greater understanding of the topic is gained.

After processing the data, obtaining and interpreting the results in the previous chapter,

the findings have been delimited and discussed in the present chapter. These findings can be

generalized to the extent of representatives of the sample and methodology employed in the

study. Keeping the major findings in view, the educational implications of the study have

been worked out. But the findings and implications do not fit in all the concerns of the study.

This chapter is, therefore, devoted in focusing the major findings and conclusions. The

investigator studied the online social networking addiction and mental health among

adolescent students. The objectives of the study were meant to record the effects of the

COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of students, by being addicted to social

networking and Social media websites. The researcher had collected samples from 282

students (148 Addicted adolescents and 134 Non-addicted adolescents), studying in CBSE

and STATE syllabus schools of Ernakulam District and Kottayam District. The data was

collected from the samples using a convenient sampling method and was analyzed using
descriptive and inferential statistics. The investigator compared the mental health of social

networking addicted and non- addicted adolescent students. All possible attempts are made

by the investigator to conduct a genuine study on the topic, considering the socio

demographic variables like age, gender, type of school, type of residence, financial status and

parental education along with mental health to understand the significance of these variables

with mental health and online networking site addiction. The collected data from the sample

is analyzed statistically using different tools. When the difference between two populations,

addicted and non-addicted adolescents, is being investigated, t-test is used. The t-test is also

used to find the differences in variables with respect to selected socio-demographic variables.

Karl Pearson correlation is used to find out the relationship between the two variables-

online social networking addiction and mental health among adolescent students

Objectives of the Study:

1. To compare the Mental Health between online social networking addicted and

non- addicted Adolescent Students.

2. To find the difference in mental health of online social networking non-addicted

Adolescent Students with respect to selected socio demographic variables.

3. To find the difference in mental health of online social networking addicted

Adolescent Students with respect to selected socio demographic variables.

4. To find the relationship between mental health and Online Social Networking

Addiction of addicted and non- addicted Adolescent Students.

Hypotheses of the Study:

Based on the objectives, the following hypotheses were formulated.

addicted and non- addicted Adolescent Students in their mental health.

H02: There will be no significant difference in mental health of Online Social

networking Non- Addicted Adolescent Students with respect to their age, gender, type

of school, type of residence, financial status and parental education.

H03: There will be no significant difference in mental health of Online Social

networking Addicted Adolescent Students with respect to their age, gender, type of

school, type of residence, financial status and parental education.

H04: There will be no significant difference in Online Social networking Addiction

score of Online Social networking Addicted Adolescent Students with respect to their

age, gender, type of school, type of residence, financial status and parental education.

H05: There will be no significant relationship between the mental health and Online

Social Networking Addiction of non- addicted adolescent students.

H06: There will be no significant relationship between the mental health and Online

Social Networking Addiction of addicted adolescent students.

Major findings of the study:

Through the present study, the researcher came up with salient findings related to

the mental health and Online Social Networking Addiction of adolescent students

during the Covid-19 pandemic times. For the purpose of the study, the investigator

collected samples from different schools in Kottayam and Ernakulam districts through

convenient sampling. Major findings are mentioned below:

addicted adolescents in their Mental Health. Mental health is found to be lower

among online Social networking addicted adolescents when compared to online

Social networking non- addicted adolescents.

● There is no significant difference in mental health of Online Social networking Non-

Addicted Adolescent Students with respect to their age, gender, type of school, type

of residence, financial status and parental education. Age, gender, type of school, type

of residence, financial status and parental education are not significant factors for

determining the mental health of online social networking non- addicted adolescent

students.

● Age, gender, type of school, financial status and parental education are not significant

factors in determining the mental health of online social networking site addicted

adolescent students. But, Urban Online Social networking Addicted Adolescent

Students are having better mental health when compared to their rural Online Social

networking Addicted Adolescent Students.

● There is a significant difference in Online Social networking Addiction score of

addicted Adolescent Students with respect to their age, type of school, financial status

and parental education. And there is no significant difference in Online Social

networking Addiction score of addicted Adolescent Students with respect to their

gender and type of residence. Adolescents of the age group 15-19 years, studying in

STATE Syllabus, income of 5 or more than 5 lakhs, and whose parents are having

education of below 10th are more addicted to online social networking sites when

compared to the age group of 10- 14 years, studying in CBSE syllabus, who are

having annual income of less than 5 lakhs and whose parents are having education

above 10th grade respectively.

Social Networking site Addiction among non- addicted adolescent students.

● There exists no significant relationship between the mental health and Online Social

Networking site Addiction among addicted adolescent students.

Implications:

Adolescence is a vulnerable time characterized by quick biological and social

development, and it is during this time that many prevalent mental diseases are known

to manifest. Young individuals are especially vulnerable to the whims of a pandemic

because they have a poor understanding of its severity and possess insufficient coping

skills. There is no doubt that routine disturbances, increased family pressures, social

isolation, and domestic abuse foster an atmosphere that exponentially raises the

likelihood of teenage mental health problems. Young individuals can therefore endure

considerable psychological issues as a result of this global health crisis, although on the

surface seeming to be physically less vulnerable.

Schools expose kids to new concepts, teach them how to interact with others,

develop friends, and engage in growth-promoting activities. In addition to offering

academic instruction, educational institutions can act as a base for additional social-

supportive programs like counseling services, after-school clubs, or health services like

immunization clinics and nutrition programs. Additionally, these institutions support

marginalized and socioeconomically disadvantaged sections of society by reducing the

effects of inequality. There has been a loss of social ties with teachers, friends, and

peers as a result of facility closures, social isolation, and quarantine. Reduced physical

activity, lost tutoring time, and more "screen time" spent on social, digital, or virtual

media can all have a negative impact on mental health. Risk factors for students include
dependence on special schooling, lack of digital tools or access, and unpredictable

living conditions.

This study has indications that Urban Online Social networking Addicted

Adolescent Students are having better mental health when compared to their

counterparts irrespective of their age, gender, type of school, financial status and

parental education. Hence the rural population has to be more equipped to face critical

situations like pandemic. The adolescents have to be introduced to strategies to ease

trauma, promote socialization & support effective behavior. The age group 15-19 years

are more addicted to online social networking as per the study and they should be

introduced to various volunteering activities to keep them engaged offline. Teachers

and parents should make adolescents aware about the importance of co- curricular

activities. They should be encouraged to participate in debates, essay contests, music

competitions & sports, games, tournaments. It will play a pivotal role in the

nourishment of the harmonious and all loud personality of adolescents. Each state

government should take initiatives to modify the State syllabus in par with other major

Syllabus, which otherwise is equipping students to handle adversities. The present

study is also useful for policy framework & form curriculum preparation for the

government authorities involved. Even though Kerala Government’s Crisis responses

paid sufficient attention to gender dynamics, at the same time, instances of innovation

and learning hold important lessons for resource responsive policy making in times of

crisis.

Conclusion:

The investigator assessed and compared mental health and Online Social

Networking Addiction among adolescent students. The result indicates that there exists
a negative correlation between Online Social Networking Addiction and mental health

Thus, as the level of online social networking addiction increases, mental health

decreases among non- addicted adolescent students. Also, age group, Type of school,

annual financial income as well as parental education played a vital role in determining

online Social Networking site addiction. The study results invites the attention of

relevant authorities in implementing relevant measures for effective Crisis management

especially during the time of Pandemic like Covid -19, especially for the special

population who are at risk like adolescents, whose poor mental health and well-being

during the adolescence period can direct to adolescent health threat behaviors, school

breakdown, involvement in crimes, pessimistic life style, and mental disorders in their

later life.