Social Media Addiction and Mental Health Problems Among School-Going Adolescents in The Lower Manya Krobo Municipality in The Eastern Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: Teenagers are using social media at a much higher rate than they were a few years ago. This has raised concerns about the impact on the mental health of high school students. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of social media on mental health because they are at a crucial stage of psychological and social development. Studies have shown connections between social media usage and mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. More research is necessary to fully understand the relationship between sociodemographic traits, social media use, and mental health outcomes among school-aged youth. Aim: The purpose of the study is to investigate the connections between social media usage and mental health among adolescents in senior high school in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality. The study further identifies the factors influencing the use of social media among the respondents. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey design was employed to answer the research questions. The study included 424 respondents selected using a simple random sampling technique. Questionnaires were administered to the respondents and data was analyzed using descriptive statistics to summarize the characteristics of the sample and inferential statistics, such as correlation analysis, to examine the relationships between the variables. Results: 4% of participants met the threshold for social media addiction, but high rates of anxiety (70.2% mild to severe) and depression (83.3% mild to extremely severe) were observed. Social media use correlated positively with anxiety (r = 0.19, p < 0.001) and depression (r = 0.20, p < 0.001). Loneliness significantly predicted higher depression scores (F= 4.35, p < 0.05). No significant associations were found with age, gender, or wealth status. Conclusion: While overt social media addiction was low, its association with mental health symptoms underscores the need for targeted interventions. Schools should integrate digital literacy and mental health programs, with emphasis on mitigating loneliness. Further longitudinal research is recommended to explore causal pathways.