dc.contributor.advisor |
Stasiak, Karolina |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Whitfield, Charles |
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2022-11-16T20:20:43Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2022-11-16T20:20:43Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2022 |
en |
dc.identifier.uri |
https://hdl.handle.net/2292/61873 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
Background:
There has been a lot of interest in whether social media (SM) impacts the wellbeing of
young people. Literature suggests that passive SM, characterised by ‘scrolling’, may be responsible
for negative changes in wellbeing. Much of the SM research is cross-sectional, and causality has not
been clearly established.
Aims:
To explore how limiting passive SM may impact wellbeing in several domains of health, in a
sample of young New Zealanders.
Methods:
Using a randomized waitlist-controlled trial, participants were allocated to either
immediately begin a ‘Digital Cleanse’ (DC) or a waitlist (WL). The DC group were asked to limit
passive SM to 15 minutes per day for two weeks. In the WL condition, participants continued to use
SM as usual for two weeks before beginning their ‘Digital Cleanse’. Wellbeing measures were guided
by a holistic Te Whare Tapa Whā model at Time 1 (before randomisation; both groups), at Time 2
(two weeks post-randomisation; both groups) and at Time 3 (after the WL group completed their
intervention). Qualitative interviews were conducted with a subsample of participants to explore
their experience of the intervention.
Results:
38 participants began and completed the study (19 in DC and 19 in WL). They were primarily
female tertiary students. DC participants showed greater improvement in mental and spiritual
wellbeing after the initial two weeks than the WL group (mean change in mental wellbeing in DC =
3.98, WL = .36; p < .001; mean change in spiritual wellbeing in DC = 3.23, WL = -.37; p < .001). Per
protocol analysis confirmed the primary results and revealed that Fear of Missing Out (FoMO)
reached statistical significance (mean change in DC = -3.13, WL = -.32; p = .043). Within-group
analysis revealed that all but one outcome measure (loneliness in DC group) improved when
participants limited passive SM, regardless of initial group allocation. Interviews (n=9) found that
limiting SM led to increased productivity, a realisation that SM was a tool for relieving boredom, and
that SM has an addictive quality.
Discussion:
A brief intervention limiting passive SM use may improve wellbeing in several areas. We
add to research by using experimental design and measuring wellbeing holistically. The size of the
study limits generalisability. Replication using a larger and more diverse sample is needed. |
|
dc.publisher |
ResearchSpace@Auckland |
en |
dc.relation.ispartof |
Masters Thesis - University of Auckland |
en |
dc.relation.isreferencedby |
UoA |
en |
dc.rights |
Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. |
|
dc.rights.uri |
https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm |
en |
dc.rights.uri |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/nz/ |
|
dc.title |
Digital Cleanse: Exploring the Effects of Limiting Social Media on Wellbeing |
|
dc.type |
Thesis |
en |
thesis.degree.discipline |
Psychology |
|
thesis.degree.grantor |
The University of Auckland |
en |
thesis.degree.level |
Masters |
en |
dc.date.updated |
2022-10-14T00:44:13Z |
|
dc.rights.holder |
Copyright: the author |
en |
dc.rights.accessrights |
http://purl.org/eprint/accessRights/OpenAccess |
en |