Navigating The Pandemic Online: How Social Media Coping Patterns Affect Mental Health

This study examined how different patterns of social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic affected mental health. We surveyed 479 adults aged 18 to 70 using representative sampling methods. Our analysis identified three groups of social media users: Comprehensive Users (35.1%), who used social media extensively for problem-solving, emotional support, and distraction; Social-Recreational Users (40.9%), who primarily sought emotional support and entertainment; and Minimal Users (24.0%), who used social media very little for coping. Results showed significant differences in mental health across user types. Social-Recreational Users had the best mental health outcomes, while Comprehensive Users reported lower well-being despite extensive engagement, suggesting that excessive information-seeking may increase anxiety and stress. Higher COVID-19 stress levels were associated with increased social media use for coping. Additionally, age influenced the relationship between social media patterns and mental health, with younger adults benefiting more from social and recreational use. These findings highlight the importance of considering how people use social media when assessing its psychological effects during crises. Practical recommendations include encouraging selective and moderate social media use focused on emotional support and entertainment, particularly for younger people, and developing targeted mental health interventions and platform features to enhance well-being during global crises.