Mental Wellbeing: A Social Media Analysis

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The basic foundation of human life is the interpersonal relationships. Relationship with others varies in different stages of life. The kind of interpersonal relationship with others underlay the human behavior and development. Day to day interaction in the physical world influences a person’s physical, social and psychological wellbeing (Reis et al., 2000). The most amazing feature of the 21st century is the worldwide accessibility to the internet facilities. Nowadays social software or social applications become one of the most important media for relationship formation. Social media was developed with an intention– to enhance communication and strengthen human connection – has undoubtedly had great value in terms of enhancing human relationships. …show more content…

Self-esteem and social capital are the determinants of the mental wellbeing which is one of the determinants of quality of life. It is also a component in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of health that “mental health enables people to realize their potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their communities”. Mental well-being of a person is influenced by social, cultural, economic and environmental factors. Restrictions on one’s own thoughts, emotions, behaviors and interactions with others are other elements ultimately leading to mental wellbeing (WHO mental health action plan 2013-2020). Bovier et al.2002 identified three factors influences the mental health of the young adults are perceived stress, social support and internal resources like mastery of skills and self-esteem. Making friends is the key role of social networking sites (Boyd and Ellison, 2013). Some researchers claims that emerging adults using SNS for maintaining close relationships(Coyne et al., 2013). Recent researches suggest there is an overlapping between the online and offline relationships of the emerging adults(Chadwick, 2014; Subrahmanyam et al., 2008). So it’s clear that some form of social networks happen in the virtual world too(Barnes, 2009). What the virtual world does to the real life relationships? Whether spending in SNS helps to expand the relationships socially and geographically. Individual’s perceived benefit by spending in SNS and the influence of networks on a person’s wellbeing is an important aspect to study (pew internet

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