SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE AND SELF-DIAGNOSING BEHAVIORS AMONG THE 2ND

YEAR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS OF PHILIPPINE WOMEN'S COLLEGE OF

DAVAO

Presented to
The Faculty of Tertiary Education Department of
Philippine Women's College of Davao
Juna Subd, University St. Davao City

______________________________________________________________________________

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

In PEEC 001 Research Writing in Psychology
1st semester, SY 2022–2023

______________________________________________________________________________

Submitted by:
Ashley May P. Lugo

Submitted to:
Ms. Beryl Ace A. Galorport, RPm
Instructor

2022
 Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

A significant and persistent public health issue is mental health disorders. Around 300 million

people globally suffer from depression in particular. (World Health Organization, 2012, as cited

in Ubas et al., 2021). Depression is a significant factor that contributes to suicide, which is the

third most common cause of death for people aged 10 to 24. More than half of those with

depression do not receive any treatment, and depression is both significantly underdiagnosed and

undertreated. People who suffer from mental problems frequently are hesitant to seek out a

trained clinician's assistance in treating the disorder. However, people are using social media

more regularly to talk about their problems and find emotional support. (Ubas et al., 2021).

The downside of all the attention being paid to mental health is that some people may be using

social media to diagnose themselves when in reality they are simply experiencing the normal ups

and downs of life. While most people would agree that social media's role in reducing stigma and

increasing education surrounding mental illness is helpful. For instance, due to the normalization

of disorders like bipolar disorder and ADHD on social media, individuals may unknowingly

encounter information relating to one of these conditions and, if they connect with the message

in any way, conclude that they too have a mental health issue. (Dekin, 2021).

Without professional training, diagnoses themselves can be complex and challenging to

appropriately detect. Professionals in the mental health field study diagnose to learn how and

why they arise, and we are trained to assist in determining what is going on for various

individuals. (Dekin, 2021). Finding people who exhibit early indicators of mental disease is
crucial to controlling how it develops and, in some circumstances, can even save lives. Since

2017, the CLEF eRisk Lab has been held annually with friendly indications of mental diseases

such as depression, anorexia, and suicidal thoughts from a user's social media posts before the

person was diagnosed with the disorder. (Losada et al., 2018). Many cases of mental illness go

undiagnosed despite increases in diagnosis rates over the past few decades. On social media sites

like Twitter, Facebook, and online discussion boards, you can see signs of mental illness, and

automated tools are getting better at identifying conditions like depression. (Guntuku, 2017).

In the Philippines, mental health conditions are the third most prevalent cause of morbidity,

according to the National Statistics Office (NSO). (Lally, et al., 2019). According to World

Health Organization in 2017, children's mental illnesses were reported to be prevalent in 16% of

cases in the assessment of the Philippine mental health system. It is interesting to observe how

the Philippines is now addressing this issue given the frightening number of cases. Currently,

there are only five government hospitals with pediatric psychiatric units, 84 public hospitals with

such units, and 46 outpatient clinics, only 11 of which are reserved for kids and teenagers. Only

60 child psychiatrists are now working in the Philippines, and the bulk of them are located in

urban regions like the National Capital Region. As a result, rural kids with mental health issues

have less access to such services. (Mental Health Atlas, 2017).

In Davao City, a college student aged 19, was discovered hanging in his bed. He wrote a

statement outlining his problems with relationships and family in life. He shared several ideas

and comments on his Twitter account two days before his passing. His tweets revealing his

sadness and attempts at suicide demonstrate the seriousness of the issues surrounding young

people's melancholy and suicide. Teen depression rates are rising, according to research, yet
many people are prevented from receiving medical care because of the stigma or fear of asking

for assistance. (Lamanilao, 2017).

These days, suicide-related news is neither surprising nor fresh. In fact, on May 20, 2018, there

were three suicide cases in the Davao Region alone. The deadliest consequence of depression is

suicide. And what's even worse is that suicide can only be avoided if depression is properly

recognized and treated, but frequently, people who are seriously depressed are left alone and

assumed to be attention-seekers. (Alivio, 2018).

The aforementioned situations motivated the researcher to conduct this study on the impacts of

social media usage and self-diagnosing behavior to identify and determine the factors affecting

their mental health.

Statement of the Problem

The main purpose of this study is to determine whether the use of social media to watch various

videos about mental illness has an impact on the self-diagnosing behaviors of Psychology

Students. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What are the major issues with using social media platforms to diagnose mental health

disorders?

2. What are the risks of mental health content on social media?

3. Is there a significant relationship between social media usage and self-diagnosing behaviors

for 2nd year Psychology students?

Hypothesis

The following hypothesis was tested in this study:

Ho: There is no significant relationship between social media usage and self-diagnosing

behaviors among the 2nd year Psychology students of Philippine Women’s College of Davao.

H1: There is no significant relationship between social media usage and self-diagnosing

behaviors among the 2nd year Psychology students of Philippine Women’s College of Davao.
 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter deals with the readings and studies from books, research, public research journals,

and internet sources, which served as the reference for the researchers about the study on Social

Media Usage and Self-Diagnosing Behaviors among the 2nd Year Psychology Students of

Philippine Women’s College of Davao.

Nowadays, a lot of individuals have their smartphones as virtual companions. These gadgets

employ digital social media networks to notify users of updates regarding friends, favorite

celebrities, and major world events. Many people now fully incorporate social media into their

daily life. The Pew Research Center estimates that 72% of Americans now use social media.

Fundamentally, social media is a potent tool for communication that has transformed how people

communicate with one another. It expedites how people communicate and share ideas, thoughts,

and information across virtual networks. Social media does, however, have drawbacks.

According to some data, using it excessively can have a variety of harmful effects on mental

health. (Johnson, 2021).

Mental illness is a leading cause of disability worldwide.  (Vigo et al., 2016). There is also a

sizable treatment gap, which refers to the significant proportion of people with mental illness

who do not receive proper care. According to estimates, the majority of people who require

mental health treatments in most nations do not receive any care. (Kazdin, 2017). For instance,

recent American research indicated that less than 30% of people who tested positive for

depression received any kind of care. Although there are other hurdles like physical distance,

poverty, long wait periods, and out-of-pocket costs connected with getting treatment, for certain
people accessing care might be difficult due to experiences of stigma, discrimination, or social

isolation. (Olfson et al., 2016).

As public understanding of mental health issues grows, a worrying trend of young individuals

self-diagnosing with mental illnesses—which can vary from mood, personality, or anxiety

disorders to disabilities like autism or Tourette's syndrome—has emerged. And while some

people might be happy to finally be able to identify with the emotions they're experiencing,

others might be inventing brand-new issues in their heads. (Fuller, 2022).

According to Guy (2022), a certified therapeutic trauma expert and licensed clinical social

worker, " There are a few risks to self-diagnosing with social media. Self-diagnosing can lead to

receiving the wrong treatment and interventions down the line. If you eventually see a mental

health professional, they may correct the diagnosis, but, unlike many physical conditions, mental

health is greatly informed by the history a patient present."

Major issues with using social media to diagnose mental health disorders

Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms are becoming more widely

known. These platforms are used not only for spreading the word about mental wellness and

dispelling the stigma surrounding mental health disorders but also for self-diagnosing mental

health disorders, which can be highly dangerous. Mental health illnesses should only ever be

diagnosed by a medical professional, but regrettably, more people are turning to social media for

self-diagnosis. Self-diagnosis of any mental health or medical illness has significant risks.

Unfortunately, false material on social media and the Internet, in general, can mislead many

people into thinking they have a mental health issue when they do not. (Fuller, 2022).
Several studies have identified the use of social media as a factor linked to a range of mental

health issues including anxiety, sadness, low self-esteem, and a bad mood (Ashford, 2017; Hardy

& Castonguay, 2018; Hussain & Griffiths, 2018). This research concludes that due to the

genuine nature of the information and interactions found on social media platforms, social media

has a direct impact on mental health and well-being. Although most research suggests that young

people are most at risk, using social media is also linked to high mental health symptoms in

adults.

Risk of mental health content on social media

There is still a lack of empirical research into how adolescents themselves perceive social media,

particularly as a source of knowledge, or how they use the larger social and media discourses to

express an opinion, despite the mounting evidence of the impacts of social media on adolescents’

health. (O'Reilly et al., 2018). As Phillips (2022) explained, there are two perspectives on mental

health content on social media. "On one side, I see actual clinicians offering really good tips, on

the other hand, there are people sharing self-diagnoses.

Conceptual Framework

This study anchored Jay G. Blumler and Elihu Katz’ theory. The Uses and Gratifications Theory

was fully described in their 1974 publication, "The uses of mass communication: Current

insights on gratifications research.". According to Katz, Blumler, and Gurevitch's Uses and

Gratification Theory from 1974, people choose media and content to meet their psychological

and social needs and desires. According to this theory, Katz et al. (1974) identified five key

needs: (1) personal needs (to increase credibility and status), (2) affective needs (to experience

emotion, pleasure, and feelings), (3) cognitive needs (to gain knowledge), (4) tension release

needs (to escape and divert), and (5) social integrative needs (interact with family & friends).

(Katz et al., 1974 as cited in Rajesh, 2021). Similar to this, the Hofmann and Nadkarni (2013)

Dual Factor Model of Facebook Use identified two motivational factors: (1) the need to belong,

which refers to the innate desire to associate with others and gain social acceptance, and (2) the

need for self-presentation, which relates to the ongoing process of impression management.

(Rajesh, 2021).

People are satisfied by using social media features that are tailored to their preferences (Ryan et

al., 2014). According to the Uses and Gratifications Theory, highlighting the causes of media

usage might shed light on its appeal (Katz, Blumler, & Gurevitch, 1973). Based on uses and

other data, research has developed a typology of users. Relationship maintenance (making offline

social networks online), entertainment (participating in passive social activities), companionship

(using Facebook to prevent loneliness and improve interpersonal needs), surveillance

gratifications (glancing at photos and status updates), and escape (using Facebook to get away

from problems and change mood) are all examples of gratification theory (Ryan et al., 2014)

Self-Diagnosing Behavior
Social Media Usage

Figure 1. Shows the framework of the study

Presented in Figure 1 is the conceptual framework showing the variables of the study. The first

variable is Social Media Usage. It was found out in the study of Berryman, Ferguson, and Negy

(2018) that there are various components to using social media, each of which is significant in

various ways. Confusion about various social media usage factors may have affected how

research findings have been presented to the public. Simple exposure or time spent on social

media is the first factor. According to earlier studies, simple exposure is a subpar predictor of

mental health. However, it will be mentioned here due to persistent public accusations that even

exposure hurts mental health. Second, the aspect of social media usage is the significance of

social media to an individual. According to the Self Determination Theory, some people may

view social media use as being more fundamental to their core goals than occasional users.

The second variable is Self-Diagnosing Behavior. According to White & Horvitz (2009)

“Cyberchondria” refers to the unfounded belief that a person's symptoms invariably indicate a

diagnosis of a serious illness. The risk associated with the abundance of information available on
the Internet is the escalation of common symptoms to incorrect diagnoses and therapies. It might

cause unneeded anxiety and an increase in medical expenses as a result of visits to the doctor's

office. Although not an official diagnosis, it is relevant to the case because people who are

looking for explanations for their medical symptoms may come to believe they have a significant

medical illness.

Significance of the Study

The outcome of this research can provide information and findings that will be beneficial to the

following:

To The Policymakers- This study may help them in implementing laws, and policies in

strengthening the awareness of students about the rampant misinformation on the internet.

To The Social media moderator- Through this research study, will help social media

moderators to be more vigilant in reviewing content a particular user believes is not appropriate

for the platform.

To The Content creators- this study may help them to be more responsible in uploading mental

health-related content on social media platforms; aiding them with harmless and genuine

information.

To The Psychology students- This research endeavor will aid the students of this institution by

exhibiting knowledge about social media usage and self-diagnosing behavior and how these

two variables affect their mental health.

To The Future Researchers. The study will help future researchers by presenting literature that

will give the beneficiaries ideas and understanding about the impact of social media usage and

self-diagnosing behavior.

Definition of Terms

Social Media- a computer-based technology that makes it easier for people to communicate and

share information through online communities and networks. Social media is internet-based and

allows users to share content quickly electronically, including movies, images, documents, and

personal information.

Self-diagnosis- is the process of determining or identifying a medical issue in oneself.

Mental illness- Mental illnesses are ailments that affect emotion, thought, and behavior (or a

combination of these). Distress and/or difficulty coping with daily tasks at work, in the family, or

social situations can be symptoms of mental diseases.

Mental Health- Emotions, thinking, communication, learning, resilience, hope, and self-esteem

all depend on good mental health. Relationships, emotional and personal well-being, and giving

back to the community or society all depend on good mental health. Overall well-being includes

mental health. Physical health both influences and is influenced by it.

 Chapter II

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Study Design

This study will use the non-experimental research design, specifically, the descriptive research

study. The primary purpose of this research study is to determine what are the impacts of social

media usage, their major issues, and the health risk of self-diagnosing mental health disorders.

This study includes both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Locale

This study will be conducted at the Philippine Women’s College which is located at Juna

Subdivision, University Avenue, Matina, Davao City. The Philippine Women’s College of

Davao (PWC) is a private non-stock, non-profit, nonsectarian, coeducational institution founded

in 1953 by the late Dr. Conrado Benitez and Dr. Francisca TIrona Benitez.

The PWC of Davao prides itself on its motto “Innovation is our Tradition” as it opens its doors to

answer the call of a multicultural society in Mindanao. Its view of making its students develop

the highest ideals of spiritual development, strong moral character, civic consciousness,
academic competence, and love of country is topnotch; and it never fails to promote faithfulness

to one’s own cultural tradition. (Philippine Womens College of Davao).

Population and Sample

Convenience sampling will be used to determine the respondents in this study. At least 10

respondents WILL BE the target number of samples. The respondents of this study will be the

2nd-Year College students who will be taking AB or BS in Psychology at Philippine Women’s

College of Davao School Year 2022-2023.

Research Instrument

Several questionnaires will be used to gather information. To acquire background data on

participants' gender, age, birth year, race, highest education level attained, and marital status, a

demographic survey will be employed. The frequency with which social media is used, and the

typical weekly usage of the social media platform(s).

BSMAS. The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (Andreassen et al., 2012) was used to develop

the BSMAS, which consists of six items assessed on a Likert scale with a maximum score of 5

and a minimum score of 1. (very often). The BSMAS uses the six fundamental characteristics of

addiction (salience, mood modulation, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse) developed by

Griffiths (2005) to evaluate the experience of using social media during the previous year

(Andreassen et al., 2016). A BSMAS score above 19 indicates a person is at risk of developing

problematic social media use, and a higher BSMAS score implies a stronger addiction to social

media (Bányai et al., 2017). In addition, a one-factor solution for the BSMAS structure has been

found, and measurement invariance across gender has been supported in an Italian sample

(Monacis et al., 2017).

GAD-7. The Generalized Anxiety Disorders Scale (GAD-7) was created as a screening tool for

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in primary care settings. It consists of seven items. (GAD-7;

Spitzer et al., 2006)

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria

for GAD and additional items from anxiety measures were the basis for the original 13 items that

made up the GAD-7. Items and the overall score were then connected. The seven items that

correlated best with the entire 13-item measure were chosen (Spitzer et al., 2006). The seven

items measure seven different behaviors: 1.) feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge; 2.) being able

to stop or control worrying; 3.) worrying excessively about various issues; 4.) having

difficulties relaxing; 5.) being restless; 6.) becoming easily irritated, 7.) and feeling terrified that

something terrible might happen. Despite being created for GAD, GAD-7 is also used to treat

other anxiety disorders. The GAD-7 is increasingly employed in research on anxiety disorders as

well as anxiety in general (Beard and Björgvinsson, 2014). (Dear et al., 2011).

BDI. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a self-rating scale with 21 items that assess key

depressive symptoms like mood, pessimism, sense of failure, guilt, punishment, self-dislike, self-

accusation, suicidal thoughts, crying, irritability, social withdrawal, indecision, change in one's

body image, difficulty at work, insomnia, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, somatic

preoccupation, and loss of libido (Beck & Steer, 1993; Beck, Steer & Garbing, 1988, as cited in

Sajatovic, Chen, & Young. 2015).

Data Collection

Statistical Tool
Descriptive statistical methods will be used to describe, examine, and give meaning to the

collected data. The data will be described using descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency,

and percentage. To ascertain whether there are any statistical discrepancies between the means of

variables, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) will also be used.

Ethical Considerations

 The researchers will be solely responsible for obtaining informed consent from research

participants, which means that participants will be fully informed about the nature and

purpose of the research, as well as any potential risks or benefits.

 The respondents will be given the opportunity to ask questions and withdraw at any time

without reason (including withdrawing data already provided).

 The respondents have the right to access their data.

 The researchers will respect the confidentiality and privacy of research participants and

will protect their personal information.

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APPENDICES

Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D