Effects of Social Media on Mental Health in the Workplace

Effects of Social Media on Mental Health in the Workplace
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June 19th, 2022
Abstract
The proliferation of social media has eased communication globally. People use social media for news, entertainment, and meeting spots. These functions have led to most people getting addicted. In the workplace, social media can be an instrumental communication tool. However, it can affect the performance of employees and cause them mental illnesses. This study researched the effects of social media on mental health in workplaces. It used a sample of 16 people; 8 in the managerial position and 8 in the human resource position. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and then analyzed using the SPSS software. The results showed that social media addiction leads to mental illness in most employees. Therefore, employers should devise ways to help their employees use social media efficiently to reduce mental illnesses and increase or maintain employee productivity.

Table of Contents
Effects of Social Media on Mental Health in the Workplace. 1
Abstract 2
Introduction. 5
Purpose of the study. 6
Hypothesis. 6
Research Question. 6
Methodology. 7
Research Approach/Design. 7
Participants. 8
Materials. 9
Data Collection Procedures: 10
Data Analysis Procedures. 10
Results. 11
Discussion. 15
Conclusion. 18
References. 19
Appendices. 21
Questionnaire. 21
 

Introduction
Technological advancement has made the world interconnected through social media. People communicate and learn about global trending political, social, and economic issues through social media networks like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Continuous and uncontrolled use of social media leads to addiction which is dangerous for users' mental health and their performance in the workplace. Most social media users like to share positive and good things in their lives and withhold the negatives. This creates an exaggerated image on social media that will likely pressure others to achieve the same. This may affect their mental health. Social media affects the employer's performance in the workplace because most people are likely to spend more time on social media than they would have spent working on their responsibilities.
Social media use has grown over the past few decades. People from all age brackets have adopted the use of social media networks. Bashir and Bhat (2017) argue that the younger generation, the active workforce, is the most active on social media and susceptible to its effects. These youths often compare their workplace culture with others on social media, causing mental health issues. Excess social media use also puts people in a virtual world, causing loneliness, anxiety, and depression, according to Sadagheyani and Tatari (2020). Besides, social media use leads to workplace burnout, with most people failing to balance social media use with their work responsibilities, according to Han et al. (2020). Nonetheless, Sadagheyani and Tatari (2020) note that social media increase the base for access to healthcare and workplace information, which is a good th...