Lesson

to Improve Education on Adverse Effects of Social Media on Mental Health

Elizabeth Blanton, RN, BA, NCSN
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing
20%

§  Percent increase in correct answers from pre to post

% Increased Learning from Pre to
20%

Introduction surveys will determine increased learning

•  Demonstrated link between social media use and its §  Second social media usage survey administered 10 days Post Learning Surveys Types of Social Media Platforms Used
adverse effect on mental health; loneliness, feelings of after lesson to assess change in usage
missing out, anxiety, depression (Barry, Sidoti, Briggs, 150.00%
Reiter & Lindsey, 2017) Findings
§  54.3% adolescents report using social media at least 2
Instagram live.ly Snapchat
§  42% of 4th grade students had previously received
hours per day (Sampasa-Kanyinga & Lewis, 2015); rates education about social media in 3rd or 4th grade 100.00%
of adolescent depressive symptoms, suicide-related §  No students received education about the adverse % Increased
outcomes, suicide deaths have increased between effects of social media on mental health Learning by House Party Roblox Youtube
2010-2015 (Twenge, Joiner, Rogers, & Martin, 2017) §  Overall learning increased by 35% as demonstrated by 50.00% Question
§  Younger students are using social media; the education the change in correct answers from pre to post learning 35%
4th grade students receive at St. Catherine’s School 20% Goal
surveys after one lesson
regarding social media is inconsistent and inadequate TikTok (formerly Musical.ly
§  Increased learning varied by survey question 0.00%
§  Educating students about adverse effects of social media §  Total social media usage decreased by 28% after one
on mental health early in lives and improving lesson when assessed 10 days later
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Total %
educational process can positively impact mental health §  Results from post learning social media usage survey are Survey Conclusions
as they progress into adolescence. Increased
in question, as past social media use results decreased
and types of social media platforms increased in final
Question Number Learning §  Goals for the PDSA project were exceeded
Project Goals survey
§  Findings were well accepted by School Administration,
teachers, and 4th Grade Parents
§  To improve student learning about the adverse effects §  Self-reported daily time spent on social media by 4th §  Future PDSA Cycles will be run in subsequent years with
of social media on mental health by 20% after one grade students ranged from 15 minutes to 3 hours Student Social Media Usage new 4th grade students
lesson. §  Data was gathered from the surveys and compiled into §  In future PDSA Cycles, surveys may include questions
§  To reduce social media use by 20% after one lesson graphs below Students Who Use Social 2 about student smartphone usage to determine
within 10 days. Media Monthly 1
Did you previously receive social influence on social media use
Students Who Use Social 7
media education in 3rd or 4th grade? 6 References
Project Description Media Daily
Barry, C.T., Sidoti, C.L., Briggs, S.M., Reiter, S.R., & Lindsey, R.A. (2017).
Students Who Use Social 4
§  Lesson taught to 4th grade students about the adverse Adolescent social media use and mental health from adolescent and
Media Weekly 7 Final Survey parent perspectives. Journal of Adolescents, 611-11.
effects of social media on mental health Total Students- Past Social
2 Sampasa-Kanyinga, H., & Lewis, R.F. (2015). Frequent Use of Social
§  Surveys used to assess learning; pre and post learning Media Use 10 Initial Survey
Networking Sites Is Associated with Poor Psychological Functioning
surveys in addition to a social media usage survey
42% Yes Total Students Currently 13 Among Children and Adolescents. Cyberpsychology, Behavior & Social
Using Social Media 18 Networking, 18(7), 380-385.
58% No

Twenge, J.M., Joiner, T.E., Rogers, M.L., & Martin, G.N. (2017). Increases
0 5 10 15 20 in depressive symptoms, suicide-related outcomes, and suicide rates
Number of Students among U.S. adolescents after 2010 and links to increased new media
screen time. Clinic Psychological Science, 6(1), 3-17.