Designing Mental Health Technologies that Support the Social Ecosystem of College Students

Introduction: The college years are characterized by psychosocial and biological phenomena that may impact mental health, such as heightened sensitivity to social stressors and compromises in sleep quantity and quality. The current study uses a biopsychosocial approach to examine the associations among interpersonal stress, Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), insomnia, and mental health. Methods: Survey data were collected from 283 undergraduate students (90% female) with a mean age of 21.4 years. A path analysis was utilized to test a mediational model linking interpersonal stress and FoMO with mental health through a mediator of insomnia. We hypothesized that higher levels of interpersonal stress and FoMO would be associated with higher levels of insomnia symptoms, which would in turn be associated with poorer mental health. Results: As predicted, insomnia partially mediated significant associations of interpersonal stress and FoMO with mental health. The association of interpersonal stress with insomnia and mental health was more robust than the association of FoMO with these variables. Conclusions: The pathway from interpersonal stress and/or FoMO, through insomnia, to compromises in mental health may be modifiable through behavioral interventions focusing on coping skills, sleep hygiene, and even technology-related habit changes. Recommendations to help disrupt this pathway, particularly among college students, are discussed.

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Correlation of exercise style to mental health and social adaptability of college students

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-213497 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Yu Chen ◽

Chloe Sto

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

College Students ◽

Interpersonal Communication ◽

Exercise Intensity ◽

Optimal Choice ◽

Sports Activity ◽

The Social ◽

Social Adaptability ◽

Communication Ability ◽

Sports Activities

BACKGROUND: Talents are the basis of all development and comprehensive strength of a country. As college students who are about to contact the society, their mental health and social adaptability are the most critical factors for their entry into society. OBJECTIVE Therefore, this study explores the correlation of exercise style to mental health and social adaptability of college students. METHODS: Based on the sample processing of college students in 4 universities in a city, 1,000 students are selected for research on the correlation of exercise style to mental health and social adaptability. In addition, the impacts of college students participating in sports activities on their mental health and social adaptability are analyzed. RESULTS: When the duration of a single sports activity is 30–60 min, the mental health of students reaches optimal. On the contrary, when the duration of a single sports activity exceeds 90 min, the mental health of students is low. This indicates that the more students participate in sports activities, the stronger the social adaptability is. When the intensity of sports activities for students is moderate, the average scores of interpersonal communication ability of students are the highest. When the duration of a single sports activity is 60–90 min, the average scores of living adaptability of students are the highest. If students keep the appropriate duration and intensity of sports activities, their social adaptability will be improved notably. CONCLUSION: The social adaptability of students is related to the number of times they participate in sports activities, the duration of a single sports activity, and the intensity of sports activities. However, while exercising, students should plan the duration of sports activities to avoid excessively prolonged exercise time. In addition, students should beware their exercise intensity of sports activities. The optimal choice of exercise intensity is moderate or slightly tired.

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