“I was not like this before”: Exploring the lived experiences of adolescents with mental disorders on social media through interpretative phenomenological analysis

Despite ongoing research, the impact of social media on adolescent mental health remains unclear, primarily due to inconsistent findings and a significant gap in understanding the experiences of adolescents facing mental health challenges. This study aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the lived experiences of adolescents with mental disorders on social media and how these experiences affect their mental health. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten adolescents (seven females and three males, aged 13–17) diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or emotional and behavioural disorder, all of whom were receiving treatment at child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinics in a regional psychiatric hospital in Türkiye. Data were collected in 2024. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The study is reported using the COREQ checklist. The analysis revealed four main themes: excessive social media use, digital engagement versus cyberbullying, social comparison, and reducing versus increasing stress levels. This study highlights the complex relationship between social media and adolescent mental health, illustrating both the benefits and risks for those with mental health disorders. It advocates for a balanced approach, where strategies are developed to enhance positive social media experiences while mitigating its potential harms, with collaborative efforts from parents, educators, and researchers aimed at improving adolescents' mental health.