The Psychosocial Impact of Social Media on the Youths in Hwange Urban Area

Kuziwa Bhiri; Davie Mapfunde

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i02.41654

The Psychosocial Impact of Social Media on the Youths in Hwange Urban Area

Author(s)	Mr. Kuziwa Bhiri, Mr. Davie Mapfunde
Country	Zimbabwe
Abstract	The study is about the impact of social media on the mental health of adolescents. The study explores the relationship between social media use and mental health among adolescents in Hwange Urban Area, with the aim of understanding the risks and benefits of social media use for this population. The study is hinged on the three objectives that is (a) To examine the relationship between social media use and mental health problems in adolescents, (b)To identify the specific ways in which social media use is impacting on the mental health of adolescents in Hwange Urban area and (c) To develop interventions to help adolescents reduce their social media use so as to improve their mental health. The literature review examines existing research on social media use and mental health among adolescents, including studies on cyberbullying, misinformation, self-esteem issues, and the use of social media for social support. A qualitative research approach was used in the study. The data collection instruments used are semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with a sample of adolescents in Hwange Central Ward 8. Data analysis involved thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes related to social media use and mental health. C The findings suggest a negative relationship between excessive social media use and mental health among adolescents in Hwange Central Ward 8, with potential impacts including increased anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. The findings also highlight the potential benefits of social media use for social support and connection, particularly during times of stress or isolation. The study recommends interventions that promote healthy social media habits, empowering adolescents to make informed decisions about their social media use, and educate parents and communities about the risks and benefits of social media use for adolescents.
Keywords	psychosocial, Mental health, social media, Adolescents
Field	Sociology > Philosophy / Psychology / Religion
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 2, March-April 2025
Published On	2025-04-26
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i02.41654
Short DOI	https://doi.org/g9gvds

View / Download PDF File

E-ISSN 2582-2160

doi

CrossRef DOI is assigned to each research paper published in our journal.

IJFMR DOI prefix is
10.36948/ijfmr

Downloads

Research Paper Format Copyright Permission Form and Undertaking Form Cover Page Vol 7 Isu 2 Cover Page Vol 7 Isu 1 Cover Page Vol 6 Isu 6

All research papers published on this website are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and all rights belong to their respective authors/researchers.

CC-BY-SA

About IJFMR Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics Peer Review & Plagiarism	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Reviewer Referral Program Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us		+91-9687-828-838	editor@ijfmr.com

International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

The Psychosocial Impact of Social Media on the Youths in Hwange Urban Area

Share this