Examination of Psychiatric Symptoms Caused by Exposure to Social Media during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aim: In this study, ıt is aimed to examine the psychiatric symptoms that occur as a result of exposure to social media during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted with the participation of individuals aged 18 and above living in Turkey and using social media. Individuals were invited electronically, and 532 individuals participated in the study. Results:57.3% of the individuals participating in the study have increased their use of social media during the COVID-19 outbreak. Depression, negative self, somatization, hostility and symptom distress index scores of individuals who were negatively affected by reading and hearing reading information, news, and stories about COVID-19 were statistically significantly higher compared to individuals who were not affected by reading and hearing information, news, and stories about COVID-19. Conclusion: In our study, it was found that more than half of the individuals increased their use of social media during the COVID-19 outbreak. It was observed that, as the duration of social media use increased, psychiatric symptoms increased, and the increase in the use of social media during the COVID-19 outbreak, and reading and hearing information, news, and stories about COVID-19 affected the mental health of individuals negatively.