scholarly journals Impact of Media-Based Age Stereotypes on Older Individuals’ Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 592-593
Author(s):  
E-Shien Chang ◽  
Sarah Lowe ◽  
Natalia Provolo ◽  
Martin Slade ◽  
Becca Levy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Neutral Condition ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Age Stereotypes ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Media Messaging

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, stigmatization of older persons has increased in traditional and social media. It was unknown whether this negative messaging could be detrimental to the mental health of older individuals, and whether the relatively uncommon positive messaging about older individuals could benefit their mental health. To address these gaps, we designed age-stereotype interventions based on actual news stories that appeared during the pandemic. As expected, the exposure of older individuals to the negative-age-stereotype-messaging interventions led to significantly worse mental health (more anxiety and less peacefulness), compared to a neutral condition; in contrast, the positive-age-stereotype-messaging interventions led to significantly better mental health (less anxiety and more peacefulness), compared to a neutral condition. The results demonstrate the need for media messaging aimed at empowering older individuals during the pandemic and beyond.

scholarly journals INTERNET USE AND MENTAL HEALTH IN AFRICA AND INDIA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley Monroe Shrum ◽  
Jonathan Teye Yevuyibor ◽  
Shriya Thakkar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Personal Networks ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
Social Network Size ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Internet And Social Media

Prior research has shown that mental health in urban slums is associated with the a share number of older individuals in personal networks. This presentation will examine the extent to which that association is mediated through Internet and social media use. We conducted face to face interviews with residents (minimum 18 years) in two high density, low income areas of Accra (West Africa) and Trivandrum (Kerala, India), where local teams have conducted repeated studies of personal networks since 1994. Our preliminary results show that mobile phones are primary way in which respondents communicate with members of their core networks. Further preliminary results show that while research in high income areas has generally shown the importance of larger networks for positive mental health, our analysis of urban slums reveals a different pattern. First, there is no general association of larger networks with reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. Second, one particular group of relationships is strongly associated with depression and anxiety: ties with older individuals. The questions we explore are: (1) To what extent are indicators of mental health related to indicators of Internet and social media usage? (2) To what extent are indicators of mental health related to indicators of social network size and composition? (3) To what extent are indicators of Internet and social media usage related to indicators of indicators of social network size and composition?

Grassroots Mental Health Groups’ Use of Advocacy Strategies in Social Media Messaging

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (14) ◽  
pp. 2205-2216
Author(s):  
Sarah Smith-Frigerio
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Advocacy Strategies ◽  
Media Messaging ◽  
Mental Health Concerns

Mental health concerns are a public health crisis. Stigma is the primary reason why individuals do not disclose or seek treatment. Stigma is constructed communicatively, and destigmatization efforts—such as advocacy messaging—are also communicative. I employ a case study approach to describe how two mental health groups use advocacy strategies in their social media messaging to help audience members mitigate mental health concerns and challenge stigma. I found content creators use a variety of advocacy strategies in their messaging, including awareness-raising, support of policy initiatives, and the promotion of diversity and inclusivity. Although not the primary goal of these groups’ messaging, advocacy strategies were important to content creators and audience members, and 80% of audience members interviewed engaged in advocacy work for the organizations. I provide a nuanced view of mental health communication advocacy strategies, make recommendations for health communication professionals, and demonstrate the need for future studies.

RE-AUTHORING THE LOSSES AND CHALLENGES OF AGING: OLDER INDIVIDUALS’ EXPERIENCES OF LONGTERM GROUP WORK

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-19
Author(s):  
Cecile Frankel ◽  
Brenda Solarsh ◽  
Eleanor Ross
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Group Work ◽  
Narrative Therapy ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Life Transitions ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Documentary Analysis ◽  
Social Group Work

The increase in life expectancy has highlighted the value of group work interventions as a cost-effective way of helping older persons to deal with life transitions. This article describes a group for senior citizens that continued for 18 years. The aim of the study was to undertake a documentary analysis of the facilitator’s process notes and participans’ reflections to ascertain possible reasons for the group’s longevity. These were attributed to the skill of the facilitator and her creative use of programme material and narrative therapy. Recurring themes included loneliness, the fear of dying, and dilemmas about relinquishing control and independence. Findings have implications for the practice of social group work with older persons.

The Psychology behind Users Mental Health in Social Media

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 309-316
Author(s):  
D. Sridhar ◽  
◽  
◽  
V. Kathiresan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media

Social Media Use in College-age Youth: A Comprehensive Review and a Call to Action

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-143
Author(s):  
Hilary Holmes ◽  
Alba E. Lara ◽  
Gregory S. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
College Age ◽  
Mental Health Awareness ◽  
Privacy Breaches

Background: Social media is a relatively new and impactful way to connect millions of people around the world. The intersection of mental health and social media is a poorly studied, yet important area of research. Specifically, with regard to college-aged youth, social media can potentially offer an educational tool to enhance mental health awareness or augment treatment when it is used for professional purposes by mental health advocates or healthcare professionals. There is also the added risk of disinformation, cyberbullying, and privacy breaches. Objective: This review aims to assess the current state of social media use and its influence on mental health, especially in college-age youth. Methods: The authors of this paper utilized PubMed and Medline databases to review the most recent experimental studies and literature reviews available on the topic of mental health and social media. Results: Abstracts and relevant papers were read in full, and information from these studies was cited accordingly. Conclusion: The authors conclude that although more research needs to be conducted, social media may offer benefits for mental health awareness, education, and treatment, specifically in populations such as college-age youth.

The Relationship Between Highly Visual Social Media and Young People’s Mental Health: A Scoping Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alanna McCrory
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Young People ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
The Impact

UNSTRUCTURED Users of highly visual social media (HVSM), such as Snapchat and Instagram, share their messages through images, rather than relying on words. A significant proportion of people that use these platforms are adolescents. Previous research reveals mixed evidence regarding the impact of online social technologies on this age group’s mental wellbeing, but it is uncertain whether the psychological effects of visual content alone differ from text-driven social media. This scoping review maps existing literature that has published evidence about highly visual social media, specifically its psychological impact on young people. Nine electronic databases and grey literature from 2010 until March 2019 were reviewed for articles describing any aspect of visual social media, young people and their mental health. The screening process retrieved 239 articles. With the application of eligibility criteria, this figure was reduced to 25 articles for analysis. Results indicate a paucity of data that exclusively examines HVSM. The predominance of literature relies on quantitative methods to achieve its objectives. Many findings are inconsistent and lack the richness that qualitative data may provide to explore the reasons for theses mixed findings.

Comparing Representation of Depression on Reddit and Twitter Social Media Platforms (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan Kaji ◽  
Maggie Bushman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Relative Frequency ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Dsm Iv ◽  
Twitter Users

BACKGROUND Adolescents with depression often turn to social media to express their feelings, for support, and for educational purposes. Little is known about how Reddit, a forum-based platform, compares to Twitter, a newsfeed platform, when it comes to content surrounding depression. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to identify differences between Reddit and Twitter concerning how depression is discussed and represented online. METHODS A content analysis of Reddit posts and Twitter posts, using r/depression and #depression, identified signs of depression using the DSM-IV criteria. Other youth-related topics, including School, Family, and Social Activity, and the presence of medical or promotional content were also coded for. Relative frequency of each code was then compared between platforms as well as the average DSM-IV score for each platform. RESULTS A total of 102 posts were included in this study, with 53 Reddit posts and 49 Twitter posts. Findings suggest that Reddit has more content with signs of depression with 92% than Twitter with 24%. 28.3% of Reddit posts included medical content compared to Twitter with 18.4%. 53.1% of Twitter posts had promotional content while Reddit posts didn’t contain promotional content. CONCLUSIONS Users with depression seem more willing to discuss their mental health on the subreddit r/depression than on Twitter. Twitter users also use #depression with a wider variety of topics, not all of which actually involve a case of depression.

scholarly journals Exploring narrative linearity between Twitter and the news: Echoes of the Arab Spring in Brazil

2021 ◽  
pp. 095792652110232
Author(s):  
Helton Levy ◽  
Dan Mercea
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Narrative Theory ◽  
Arab Spring ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
News Stories ◽  
The Arab Spring ◽  
Representation Of Time

This article explores the use of narrative theory as an analytical framework to investigate the extent to which popular hashtags and the news can develop into intersecting stories. It juxtaposes the case of hashtag-based reports seen during the Arab Spring to understand the coverage of notorious political episodes in Brazil. Namely, the 2016 impeachment of Dilma Rousseff and the 2018 election of Jair Bolsonaro. Here, narrative linearity emerges as a tool to observe the borrowing of Twitter hashtags in several journalistic pieces. It is contended that the linearity of authorship, narration and representation of time appears as a satisfactory pathway to trace the development of hashtags into popular news stories. Results suggested that hashtags can significantly follow narratives and agendas in journalism but differing from their original social media context.

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