Keywords

Social Media; Mental Illness Identity; Mental Illness Stigma; Mental Illness Romanticization; Generation Z; College Students

Abstract

The present study investigated factors that predict a high degree of mental illness identity among Generation Z college students. Specifically, the author aimed to evaluate social media use and other psychosocial factors, including social isolation, self-esteem, well-being, discrimination, and attitude toward recovery. Two-hundred and seventeen participants were recruited using SONA and social media. Participants completed scales to measure the variables of interest: Illness Identity Questionnaire - Mental Health, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, Hope and Coping in Recovery Scale, Cornwell Perceived Isolation Scale, Stigma Scale, Social Media Use Scale, and a set of demographic questions. Pearson bivariate correlations, a one-way, between-subjects analysis of variance, and a multiple linear regression were conducted to determine whether the variables predict variation in mental illness identity. These analyses revealed social media use as a moderate predictor of mental illness identity. All psychosocial factors measured had significant relationships with mental illness identity, and all but stigma had significant relationships with social media use, but the direction of these relationships varied. There were no mean differences between social media platforms and mental illness identity. The results of this study reveal a complex relationship between these variables that could have implications for future policies and clinical interventions.

Thesis Completion Year

2025

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Whitten, Shannon

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Thesis Discipline

Psychology

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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Rights Statement

In Copyright