A recent study has found more than 57 per cent of young adults in Rajshahi city suffering from depression, with excessive social media use emerging as a major contributing factor.
Published in 鈥楾hai journal of public health鈥�, the study was conducted by a group of six researchers from Rajshahi University and Bangladesh University of Health Sciences.
As respondents, the study had 450 young adults aged 18 and above from the city鈥檚 more urbanised areas, including Kazla, Talaimary, Shaheb Bazar and Bindur Mor.
It found that the prevalence of depression was notably higher among social media users who spent longer hours online and followed certain types of posts and pages.
According to the study, female respondents reported somewhat higher depression level than the males鈥�62.1 per cent compared with 55.2 per cent鈥攁lthough the correlation between gender and depression was not statistically strong.
The highest rate of depression was recorded among those aged 21鈥�24 years, a critical period in a young adult鈥檚 life often marked by academic, career and personal challenges. Of the respondents, 48.7 per cent fell into this age group.
Researchers used the 鈥楶atient Health Questionnaire 9鈥�, a globally accepted tool to assess depression levels.
Study results showed that 17.3 per cent respondents were suffering from severe depression, while another 20 per cent had moderately severe symptoms.
The study found a significant correlation between depression and the type of social media platforms used.
Users of Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Pinterest were found to have higher level of depression compared with the users of other platforms.
Time spent on social media also played a critical role as found in the study.
Depression was more prevalent among those spending more than 10 hours a day online.
The data indicated a positive relation between the duration of use and severity of symptoms, including sleep disturbances, low energy, loss of interest in activities, feelings of failure, and thoughts of self-harm.
When asked about the health impact of their screen time, 87.3 per cent of the respondents said that they believed that the amount of time they spent on the social media was not good for their well-being.
Beyond platform use and screen time, the type of posts and pages followed by users showed clear patterns.
Those who followed the posts, accounts and pages of celebrities or models, gaming content, funny content, or animals and pet-related pages were found to have higher level of depression.
In contrast, users who mainly followed friends, family or news/entertainment accounts showed relatively lower level of mental distress.
Lead researcher Nazrul Islam Mondal, a professor of population science and human resource development department at Rajshahi University, said that while social media could be a powerful tool for connection, it also exposed users to idealised portrayals of life, leading to unhealthy comparisons and emotional isolation.
鈥榊oung users are often unaware of the psychological effects of what they see online. The constant comparison, curated lifestyles, and fear of missing out can erode self-worth,鈥� he told 抖阴精品.
More than 50 per cent of respondents in the study reported experiencing at least moderate levels of these symptoms.
Researchers also pointed out that social media use late at night contributed to poor sleep hygiene which in turn worsened emotional stability.
Based on the findings, the researchers recommend immediate steps to mitigate the negative impacts of social media on mental health.
Their recommendations include digital literacy programmes in schools and universities, parental guidance and limitations on screen time, mental health campaigns targeting adolescents and young adults, and policy guidelines encouraging social media companies to include mental well-being tools.
The study further recommends that social media platforms introduce time usage alerts, algorithmic controls and mood-sensitive prompts to discourage compulsive use.
鈥楢s Bangladesh continues to embrace digital platforms, it鈥檚 essential to build psychological resilience and awareness among youth,鈥� Nazrul Islam Mondal stressed.
