Mental health and Instagram use: a Brazilian exploratory study about depression, anxiety and FoMo

Abstract

Until January 2021, the number of Brazilians with internet access increased 14.2% compared to 2020, totaling 160 million users, from which 150 million are active on social media (Kemp, 2021). The average number of hours Brazilians spend on social networks is 10 hours and 8 minutes, above the global average that is 3 hours and 42 minutes, losing only to the Philippines and Colombia. Literature has shown (Bueno, 2018; Ramzan, 2019; Keyte et al 2020; Bettmann et al., 2021) that surfing the social media can lead to an increase in depression, anxiety and FoMo symptoms. Aiming to assess the incidence of these symptoms in the Brazilian context, this study carried out a quantitative survey with users of Instagram, worldly the fourth most used network behind Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp (Statista, 2021). We divided respondents into three groups: Instagram users with an average of >5h daily (G1); Instagram users <2h daily (G2), and non-users of Instagram (G3). During the data collection, participants responded to three questionnaires, being: Patient Health (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and Fear of missing out scale. Evidence shows that G1 had a higher incidence of depression and anxiety symptoms than the other groups. However, further studies should be conducted to confirm this hypothesis. This study aimed to contribute to building knowledge in the field of technology and mental health, as well as raise awareness of the importance of implementing initiatives to promote a healthier use of social media.