Does Age Matter? The Impact of Social Media Exposure on People’s Mental Health during the COVID Pandemic

Research output: Conference PapersRGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (without host publication)peer-review

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Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2024

Conference

Title74th Annual International Communication Association Conference (ICA 2024)
LocationGold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
PlaceAustralia
CityGold Coast
Period20 - 24 June 2024

Abstract

 This study investigates how social media exposure has affected individuals’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular emphasis on age differences. Given the contentious nature of this effect observed in previous research, the study innovatively tackles the issue through two approaches. Drawing on the protection motivation theory (PMT), the study demonstrates the indirect effect of social media exposure via threat and coping appraisals. Second, the study considers age as a contextual factor, examining the unique patterns observed within different age groups (young, middle-aged, and elderly). Analysis of two-wave panel survey data in Hong Kong supports the utility of two appraisals as mediators. It also indicates that the young generation tends to adopt the coping appraisal to enhance mental health, while middle-aged and elderly individuals employ threat appraisals to the detriment of mental health. These findings have theoretical contributions and provide practical guidelines tailored to different age groups.

Citation Format(s)

Does Age Matter? The Impact of Social Media Exposure on People’s Mental Health during the COVID Pandemic. / Liu, R.; Huang, Y.; Zhang, L.
2024. Paper presented at 74th Annual International Communication Association Conference (ICA 2024), Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Research output: Conference PapersRGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (without host publication)peer-review