Effects of Social Media on The Mental Health of Youth in Selected Catholic Churches in Mavoko Subcounty, Machakos County, Kenya

Abstract

The growing prevalence of social media use among youth presents both opportunities for connection and concerns about its psychological implications. In Kenya, particularly in semi-urban areas like Machakos County, there has been limited exploration of how engagement with social media affects the mental health of young people. This study looked into how social media usage impacted the mental health of individuals aged 18–35 years in selected Catholic churches within Mavoko Sub-County, focusing on widely used platforms including TikTok, WhatsApp, and Instagram. It also investigated strategies to alleviate the negative effects of digital engagement. The research was based on Social Comparison Theory, Uses and Gratifications Theory, Cultivation Theory, and Ecological Systems Theory, providing a framework for comprehending how social media influences emotional and cognitive well-being. A cross-sectional mixed-methods approach was utilized, targeting around 950 youth and various key informants, including counselors and youth leaders. The study included a sample of 282 youth respondents and 63 parent respondents, gathered through purposive and stratified random sampling techniques to ensure diverse representation across gender, age, and involvement in church activities. Quantitative data were processed using IBM SPSS, while qualitative findings from open-ended questions offered richer contextual insights. The Social-Media–Mental Health Scale, adapted from the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), showed high reliability (α = .937). Results indicated that emotional and cognitive factors, particularly anxiety, self-comparison, and mental exhaustion, yielded the highest mean scores, suggesting that psychological distress stemmed more from internalized comparisons than from the amount of time spent online. Correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between social comparison and mental health distress (r = .253, p < .05), while regression analysis pinpointed social comparison as the principal predictor of poor mental health (B = .356, p = .038). Additionally, qualitative data revealed that parents noticed behavioral changes in youth, such as social withdrawal, disrupted routines, and mood swings. The study concluded that the quality of social media interaction, rather than the duration of online activity, serves as the key factor influencing youth mental health. It recommended the implementation of cognitive-behavioral interventions to assist youth in confronting distorted self-perceptions and managing online comparisons, along with digital literacy and faith-based mentorship programs to promote responsible media engagement within families, schools, and church communities. The research emphasized that social media is not inherently detrimental; instead, its psychological effects are contingent upon how individuals interpret and emotionally engage with their digital experience