SOCIAL MEDIA'S INFLUENCE ON ADOLESCENTS' MENTAL HEALTH: A QUALITATIVE STUDY IN THE REMOTE COMMUNITY OF CALUBIAN, LEYTE

Social media's quick spread has changed teenagers' daily lives all around the world, but less is known about how this change may affect mental health in isolated, low-resource environments. This study explores how teenagers in Calubian, a rural municipality in the Philippine Island of Leyte, perceive, understand, and manage the impact of social media on their interpersonal connections, emotional health, and self-concept. We conducted three focus groups and semi-structured interviews (n = 32) with secondary school students (ages 13–18) and key informants (parents, teachers, and community health professionals) using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Digital connectivity as a double-edged sword, identity construction and performance, cyberbullying, rumor-spreading, and moral distress, and coping strategies and community resilience were the four topics that emerged from the investigation. Results show that social media increases anxiety, depressive affect, and the pressure to meet unachievable norms while also offering vital channels for knowledge, social support, and aspirational mobility. Four themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Digital Connectivity as a Double-Edged Sword; (2) Identity Construction and Performance; (3) Cyberbullying, Rumor Spreading, and Moral Distress; and (4) Coping Strategies and Community Resilience. The paper addresses implications for school-based mental health literacy, community-driven digital wellness initiatives, and policy recommendations aimed at bridging the digital mental health divide in peripheral regions. Results show that social media increases anxiety, depressive affect, and the pressure to meet unachievable norms while also offering vital channels for knowledge, social support, and aspirational mobility. The implications for community-driven digital wellness programs, school-based mental health literacy, and legislative suggestions meant to close the digital mental health gap in outlying areas are all covered in this study.