Social Media Use and COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Health Behaviors, Knowledge, and Mental Health Among University of Nevada, Reno Students

Reliance on social media for health information is widespread, yet impacts of social media use (SMU) on health behaviors during infectious disease pandemics are poorly understood. We used a random sample from a university student directory to invite students to take a cross-sectional online survey d...

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Autores principales:	Molly M. Hagen, Sarah Y. T. Hartzell, Paul G. Devereux
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	New Prairie Press 2021
Materias:	covid-19 social media mental health student pandemic public health Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/a8980334470a448bb34f620f60e12fa5
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:a8980334470a448bb34f620f60e12fa52021-11-18T18:28:45ZSocial Media Use and COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Health Behaviors, Knowledge, and Mental Health Among University of Nevada, Reno Students10.4148/2572-1836.11002572-1836https://doaj.org/article/a8980334470a448bb34f620f60e12fa52021-04-01T00:00:00Zhttps://newprairiepress.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1100&context=hbrhttps://doaj.org/toc/2572-1836Reliance on social media for health information is widespread, yet impacts of social media use (SMU) on health behaviors during infectious disease pandemics are poorly understood. We used a random sample from a university student directory to invite students to take a cross-sectional online survey during the coronavirus pandemic. Survey questions assessed adherence to public health guidelines, knowledge of COVID-19/SARS-CoV2, and mental health symptoms. Students were classified based on their level of SMU for information on COVID-19 as: (1) none, (2) some use, or (3) main source. Weighted regressions were used to relate SMU to adherence (five-point scale) and knowledge (six-point scale), with higher scores representing higher adherence/knowledge, and to mental health (PHQ-8 and GAD-7 scales). The weighted prevalence of SMU for COVD-19 information was 71.3%, and 17.1% of students identified SMU as their main source of COVID-19 information (total N = 181). Mean adherence ranged from 3.71±0.17 (SEM) for none, to 3.94±0.14 (SEM) for main source, and differences were not statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. Knowledge scores decreased from 5.44±0.11 (SEM) for none, to 5.38±0.08 for some, and 5.23±0.16 for main source (p = 0.056). The weighted prevalence of depression was 38.7%, 43.1%, and 51.9% for none, some use, and main source; weighted prevalence of anxiety was 19.7%, 27.0%, and 36.7%, respectively. Effects of SMU for information during pandemics on health behavior merits further research, especially regarding adherence to public health guidelines. In the case of COVID-19, SMU may be negatively correlated with knowledge and mental health.Molly M. HagenSarah Y. T. HartzellPaul G. DevereuxNew Prairie Pressarticlecovid-19social mediamental healthstudentpandemicpublic healthSpecial aspects of educationLC8-6691Public aspects of medicineRA1-1270ENHealth Behavior Research, Vol 4, Iss 2 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	covid-19 social media mental health student pandemic public health Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
spellingShingle	covid-19 social media mental health student pandemic public health Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Molly M. Hagen Sarah Y. T. Hartzell Paul G. Devereux Social Media Use and COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Health Behaviors, Knowledge, and Mental Health Among University of Nevada, Reno Students
description	Reliance on social media for health information is widespread, yet impacts of social media use (SMU) on health behaviors during infectious disease pandemics are poorly understood. We used a random sample from a university student directory to invite students to take a cross-sectional online survey during the coronavirus pandemic. Survey questions assessed adherence to public health guidelines, knowledge of COVID-19/SARS-CoV2, and mental health symptoms. Students were classified based on their level of SMU for information on COVID-19 as: (1) none, (2) some use, or (3) main source. Weighted regressions were used to relate SMU to adherence (five-point scale) and knowledge (six-point scale), with higher scores representing higher adherence/knowledge, and to mental health (PHQ-8 and GAD-7 scales). The weighted prevalence of SMU for COVD-19 information was 71.3%, and 17.1% of students identified SMU as their main source of COVID-19 information (total N = 181). Mean adherence ranged from 3.71±0.17 (SEM) for none, to 3.94±0.14 (SEM) for main source, and differences were not statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. Knowledge scores decreased from 5.44±0.11 (SEM) for none, to 5.38±0.08 for some, and 5.23±0.16 for main source (p = 0.056). The weighted prevalence of depression was 38.7%, 43.1%, and 51.9% for none, some use, and main source; weighted prevalence of anxiety was 19.7%, 27.0%, and 36.7%, respectively. Effects of SMU for information during pandemics on health behavior merits further research, especially regarding adherence to public health guidelines. In the case of COVID-19, SMU may be negatively correlated with knowledge and mental health.
format	article
author	Molly M. Hagen Sarah Y. T. Hartzell Paul G. Devereux
author_facet	Molly M. Hagen Sarah Y. T. Hartzell Paul G. Devereux
author_sort	Molly M. Hagen
title	Social Media Use and COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Health Behaviors, Knowledge, and Mental Health Among University of Nevada, Reno Students
title_short	Social Media Use and COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Health Behaviors, Knowledge, and Mental Health Among University of Nevada, Reno Students
title_full	Social Media Use and COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Health Behaviors, Knowledge, and Mental Health Among University of Nevada, Reno Students
title_fullStr	Social Media Use and COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Health Behaviors, Knowledge, and Mental Health Among University of Nevada, Reno Students
title_full_unstemmed	Social Media Use and COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Health Behaviors, Knowledge, and Mental Health Among University of Nevada, Reno Students
title_sort	social media use and covid-19: a cross-sectional study examining health behaviors, knowledge, and mental health among university of nevada, reno students
publisher	New Prairie Press
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/a8980334470a448bb34f620f60e12fa5
work_keys_str_mv	AT mollymhagen socialmediauseandcovid19acrosssectionalstudyexamininghealthbehaviorsknowledgeandmentalhealthamonguniversityofnevadarenostudents AT sarahythartzell socialmediauseandcovid19acrosssectionalstudyexamininghealthbehaviorsknowledgeandmentalhealthamonguniversityofnevadarenostudents AT paulgdevereux socialmediauseandcovid19acrosssectionalstudyexamininghealthbehaviorsknowledgeandmentalhealthamonguniversityofnevadarenostudents
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Social Media Use and COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Health Behaviors, Knowledge, and Mental Health Among University of Nevada, Reno Students

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