How Social Media Shapes Mental Illness Perceptions
A recent study has revealed that even slight differences in the wording of social media messages can significantly influence young people’s beliefs about depression, anxiety, and their treatment. The study highlights the power of social media in shaping perceptions and suggests that how mental health information is framed can impact young adults’ outlook on mental health conditions and their treatability.
Researchers from The Ohio State University conducted the study, focusing on college students’ responses to social media messages with different mindsets regarding mental health. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, involved 322 undergraduate students who were exposed to various types of tweets concerning mental health.
Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: those who viewed tweets conveying a growth mindset about mental health, those who viewed tweets conveying a fixed mindset, and a control group that viewed tweets unrelated to mental health. A growth mindset in this context refers to the belief that mental health can be improved with effort and treatment, while a fixed mindset implies that mental health conditions are stable, innate, and difficult to change.
In the growth mindset condition, tweets emphasized the fluid nature of mental health and the potential for recovery. For example, one tweet stated, “telling those anxious thoughts who’s really in control,” accompanied by the caption “I got this.” Conversely, tweets in the fixed mindset condition portrayed mental health as unchangeable. One such tweet read, “I can’t wait for my seasonal depression to be over so that I can get back to my regular depression.”
After viewing the tweets, participants completed a survey assessing their beliefs about the duration and treatability of depression and anxiety, as well as their perceived control over recovery from these conditions. The results were telling: those who read growth mindset tweets were more likely to believe that depression and anxiety are not permanent conditions and that individuals can take steps to alleviate their symptoms. In contrast, participants exposed to fixed mindset tweets were less optimistic about the possibility of recovery and the effectiveness of treatment.
Whitney Whitted, the study’s lead author and a doctoral student in psychology at Ohio State, emphasized the significance of these findings. She noted that young people, who often spend considerable time on social media, may encounter numerous messages about mental health. These subtle messages could influence whether they believe they can work through their depression and anxiety and improve their mental health.
Jennifer Cheavens, a co-author of the study and a professor of psychology at Ohio State, highlighted the impact of this brief intervention. She pointed out that just a few minutes of reading tweets with small variations in message framing made a noticeable difference in participants’ reported beliefs. This suggests that even brief exposure to growth mindset messages on social media could positively influence young people’s views on mental health and their willingness to seek help.
The implications of these findings are significant. For one, growth mindset messages on social media could encourage individuals with depression or anxiety to pursue treatment. Such messages can also reinforce the efforts of those already in therapy, helping them believe that their hard work can lead to improvement. Cheavens stressed the importance of this belief for therapeutic success, as clients must believe in the possibility of overcoming their problems to stay motivated in therapy.
Whitted underscored the relevance of the study’s findings in today’s digital age, where young adults spend a substantial amount of time on social media. Participants in the study reported using social media for one to three hours daily. Given this high usage, the messages young people encounter online can significantly impact their beliefs about mental illness. Therefore, it is crucial that these messages accurately reflect the treatability of mental health conditions.
The study’s co-authors include Matthew Southward from the University of Kentucky, Kristen Howard from the Milwaukee VA Medical Center/Medical College of Wisconsin, Samantha Wick from Miami University, and Daniel Strunk from Ohio State. Together, they have highlighted the potential for social media to play a positive role in mental health education and support.
In conclusion, this study demonstrates the power of social media in shaping young people’s beliefs about mental health. By framing messages with a growth mindset, social media can help foster a more optimistic outlook on the treatability of depression and anxiety. This can encourage individuals to seek help and remain committed to their treatment. As young people continue to spend significant time online, ensuring that they receive accurate and hopeful messages about mental health is essential. This study provides valuable insights into how subtle changes in message framing can make a big difference in mental health perceptions and outcomes.
Source: Materials provided by Ohio State University. Originally written by Jeff Grabmeier. Content edited for style & length.