The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health: A Research Paper Outline

Research Question: What is the relationship between social media usage and mental health in adolescents and young adults, and what are the implications for public health policy and intervention strategies?

I. Introduction (approx. 150-200 words)

Brief overview of social media usage and its increasing prevalence among adolescents and young adults

Background on the growing concern about the impact of social media on mental health

Research question and thesis statement: Social media usage is associated with increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness among adolescents and young adults, highlighting the need for evidence-based public health policy and intervention strategies.

Potential Sources:

Király et al. (2019): A systematic review of the relationship between social media use and depression in young people

Orben & Przybylski (2019): A study on the association between social media use and mental health in adolescents

II. Literature Review (approx. 500-600 words)

Overview of existing research on the impact of social media on mental health

Discussion of key findings and methodological limitations

Examination of theoretical frameworks and conceptual models that explain the relationship between social media use and mental health

Subtopics:

1. Social comparison and self-esteem

2. Sleep disturbance and social media use

3. Cyberbullying and online harassment

Potential Sources:

Gentile et al. (2014): A review of the effects of social media on children's and adolescents' self-esteem

Cain & Gradisar (2010): A study on the impact of social media use on sleep patterns in adolescents

Hertz et al. (2017): An examination of the relationship between cyberbullying and mental health outcomes in adolescents

III. Methodology (approx. 200-250 words)

Description of the research design and methods

Discussion of participant recruitment and sampling strategies

Explanation of data collection and analysis procedures

IV. Results (approx. 200-250 words)

Presentation of findings, including statistical analysis and visual aids

Discussion of the implications of the results for public health policy and intervention strategies

V. Discussion (approx. 300-400 words)

Interpretation of the results in the context of existing research

Examination of the limitations and strengths of the study

Implications for future research and public health policy

Potential Sources:

World Health Organization (2018): A report on the mental health of adolescents and young adults

National Alliance on Mental Illness (2020): A fact sheet on mental health and social media

VI. Conclusion (approx. 100-150 words)

Summary of the main findings

Discussion of the implications for public health policy and intervention strategies

Recommendations for future research and practice

Citation Style: APA (7th edition)

Desired Length: 2,500-3,000 words

Scope: The paper will focus on the impact of social media on mental health in adolescents and young adults, with a particular emphasis on the implications for public health policy and intervention strategies.