Social Connections and Mental Health among High School Students in Fremont, California

 

Abstract

     The main objective of this study is to identify what types of social connections, and in what amounts, are correlated with rates of depression and anxiety in adolescents (14-18 years old). A survey containing questions on types and frequencies of social interactions was distributed to 184 students at Irvington High School in Fremont, California, along with the PHQ-9 depression and anxiety questionnaires. Five types of social interactions were analyzed: interactions with friends, social media, family time, conversation topics with family and friends, and meal behavior. Four variables were found to have a strong correlation with depression: time spent on short video platforms (p = .00), frequency of family meals (p = .00), frequency of discussions between children and parents about the child’s social life (p = .01), and time spent with family (p = .02). Three variables were found to have a strong correlation with anxiety: time spent on short video platforms (p = .00), frequency of family meals (p = .00), and time spent with family (p = .05). The results of this study indicate that students who spend less time on short video platforms and more time with their family have better mental health on average. ​

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