Abstract

Mental health self-help accounts on social media often provide tips and strategies for individuals struggling with mental health difficulties to improve mental health outcomes. As mental health poses a public health concern that causes economic and physical problems worldwide, this self-help approach offers a potential solution to help millions of people at risk. In accordance with Technology Acceptance Models, how useful an individual finds a social media account should predict their intent to follow such accounts. Additionally, since social media accounts are highly visual content-driven, aesthetics may be a significant driver of intent to follow social media accounts. The present research examines how feelings of depression moderate the relationship between perceived usefulness of a self-help account and intent to follow the self-help account, as well as perceived aesthetics and intent to follow the self-help account. An online study was conducted with N = 410 participants in which participants were shown both self-help accounts and non-self-help accounts from Instagram. Participants were then asked to rate each account's perceived visual appeal and usefulness and their intent to follow these accounts. Lastly, participants completed a Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and a Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS). Results indicate that while aesthetics and perceived usefulness of self-help social media accounts are positively correlated with intent to follow such accounts, perceived usefulness is the dominating predictor of intent to follow.

Thesis Completion

2023

Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair/Advisor

McConnell, Daniel S.

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Psychology

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Release Date

5-15-2023

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS