Cyberbullying and Its Impact on Adolescent Mental Health on Social Media
Keywords:
Cyberbullying, Mental Health, Teens, Social Media.Abstract
The development of digital media has increased adolescents' consumptive patterns through exposure to fast food advertisements and sedentary habits. Preliminary studies showed a correlation between the duration of screen time and an increase in body mass index (BMI) in vocational school adolescents. Objective: To analyze the relationship between social media consumptiveness, physical activity, and adolescent obesity risk through an integrated approach. The study used mixed methods sequential explanatory with a quantitative design (cross-sectional survey on 150 adolescents aged 18 years followed by exploration with (interviews and FGD). Sampling was carried out by stratified random sampling based on vocational education level and gender. Quantitative data was collected through the Social Media Intensity Scale questionnaire, BMI measurement, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), while qualitative data focused on interaction patterns with digital content and lifestyle perceptions. Analysis using quantitative methods showed a significant association between social media use of more than 4 hours/day and an increased risk of obesity, mediated by decreased physical activity (β=-0.32, p<0.01) and increased snacking frequency (β=0.27, p<0.05). The findings state that teens are exposed to 5-8 food ads/hour when using social media, with 68% of respondents admitting to being impulsive in buying food after viewing promotional content. Social media consumptive plays a role as a predictor of adolescent obesity through dualism, sedentary behavior mechanisms, and unhealthy diets. Policy recommendations include the integration of digital literacy modules in school health curricula and the regulation of fast food advertising on social media use for adolescents.
Keywords: Cyberbullying, Mental Health, Teens, Social Media.
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