Researchers look to establish link between social media and mental health

Researchers from the University of Bath are looking into how taking a break from social media could help our mental health.

They want adults who would normally use apps like Twitter and Instagram every day to take part in the study.

It comes as we've launched our #BehindTheMask campaign - getting people to open up about how they have coped with lockdown.

You can find out more about that here.

Supervisor for the work, Dr Jeff Lambert whose own research looks at the links between exercise and mental health, explains:

“There has been growing awareness over recent years of the potential negative impact social media is having on our lives – in particular our mental health," he says.

"This short study aims to unlock more about what happens when we voluntarily give up sites like Facebook and Twitter over the course of a week.”

The study, being run by student researchers will last for a week.

Participants, who need to be aged 18 and over, will be asked to complete a series of two surveys and will be allocated into either a control group (where they continue to use social media as normal) or an intervention (where they are asked to refrain from using sites for seven days).

For people taking part, Dr Lambert and colleagues say the possible benefits of participating might be increased physical activity and positive psychological outcomes, in addition to contributing to new research in an under-developed area.

To take part email Chloe at crp40@bath.ac.uk.

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• bath
• university of bath
• mental health
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