Unravelling the Impact of Adolescent Social Media Usage on Parental

Interaction and Physical Well Being: A Comprehensive Study

Tamanna

and Preeti Singh

School of Media and Entertainment, GD Goenka University, Haryana, India

School of Media, Film and Entertainment, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India

Keywords: Parent-Adolescent, Social Media Usage, Adolescents Behaviour, Physical Well-Being.

Abstract: Social media isn't just a passing fad; it's a fascinating tool for exploration, entertainment, and social interaction.

It's become ingrained in our daily lives, with individuals of all ages eagerly sharing their experiences online.

This study delves into the impact of social media usage patterns and behaviours among high school students

and their relationships with their parents, while also assessing the students' physical well-being. We examined

470 students aged 15 to 17 from various types of schools across different regions. Using the IBM SPSS

MODELER, we analysed the data and discovered that social media usage doesn't significantly alter students'

behaviour towards their parents. However, there is a consensus among students that their physical well-being

is indeed influenced by social media use. The paper explores the findings in detail, including strengths,

limitations, recommendations, and areas for further research.

1 INTRODUCTION

Social media presents a multifaceted landscape,

offering various activities like news updates and

gaming, yet lacks a definitive classification. It serves

as a digital platform for users to converse, share

information, and create content, publicly or privately.

Experts note an age-related increase in social media

usage, which can impact well-being, particularly if

disregarded. Research indicates life transitions

negatively affect physical activity and lifestyle

choices. Each individual's experience with social

media is unique, with smartphone accessibility

driving increased internet usage, especially among

teens. While some navigate social networks

responsibly, others are easily influenced, spreading

misinformation. This study assesses social media's

impact on adolescent behaviour with parents and

physical well-being. Parents are increasingly

concerned about their children's online activities,

with many teens concealing their digital behaviour.

Excessive social media use is associated with

decreased family satisfaction and heightened

depression indicators. Additionally, concerns arise

about the impact of mobile device dependency on

mental health. Long hours of screen time pose health

risks, from harmful UV exposure to sedentary habits,

impacting physical well-being. Studies highlight a

complex relationship between well-being and social

media, influenced by various factors.

2 REVIEW OF LIETRATURE

A comprehensive investigation into Internet

addiction among secondary school adolescents

(Tenzin et al., 2019) revealed prevalent factors

contributing to excessive internet use among

Bhutanese students, including boredom, stress, peer

pressure, and insomnia. Similarly, research on social

media browsing and adolescent well-being

(Valkenburg et al., 2021) highlighted the differential

impact of active and passive social media use on

adolescents' psychological states. Contrarily, a study

of university students (Kolhar et al., 2021)

demonstrated positive associations between social

media engagement and learning outcomes, social

interaction, and sleep duration. However, problematic

social media use was associated with poorer well-

being across multiple domains (Boer et al., 2020).

Additionally, parental attitudes and submissive

behaviours were found to correlate moderately with

high school students' social anxiety and passive

behaviours (Abdullah, 2022). Notably, recent

510

Tamanna, . and Singh, P.

Unravelling the Impact of Adolescent Social Media Usage on Parental Interaction and Physical Well Being: A Comprehensive Study.

DOI: 10.5220/0012874100003882

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 2nd Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR-2 2023), pages 510-513

ISBN: 978-989-758-723-8

research (Leijse et al., 2023) indicated the potential

risks of social media use among adolescents but

found no significant impact on parent-adolescent

interactions. Furthermore, excessive screen time was

significantly associated with hostel residency and

familial mental illness (Rs et al., 2021), raising

concerns about the mental health implications of

prolonged digital engagement. Adolescents'

extensive use of digital technologies, including social

media, has prompted concerns regarding its potential

adverse effects on their mental well-being (Jensen et

al., 2019). While some studies found no direct link

between social media use and psychological stress

(Boers et al., 2019; Vahedi & Saiphoo, 2018), others

suggested an intricate relationship between social

media and well-being (Boer et al., 2020; Boers et al.,

2019; Shankleman et al., 2021). Moreover, parental

perceptions of social media's impact on family

dynamics underscore the need for fostering positive

parental insights (Procentese et al., 2019). With

adolescents increasingly spending substantial time

online, the prevalence of hiding online activities from

parents highlights the challenges in monitoring their

digital behaviour (Anderson & Jiang, n.d.). These

findings collectively underscore the complex

interplay between digital technology use, adolescent

well-being, and familial dynamics, urging further

interdisciplinary research in this domain.

3 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The overuse of social media among higher secondary

school students poses multifaceted challenges

including strained relationships, academic neglect,

physical health concerns, and mental well-being

issues, suggesting a pressing need for deeper

understanding and awareness of the implications for

future generations.

4 OBJECTIVES

• To review the factors of usage social media

and adolescents’ behaviour towards their

parents.

• To analyse the rational use of social media

platforms by adolescents and their physical

well-being

5 METHODOLOGY

This ongoing study examines social media use,

physical well-being, and parent-adolescent

behaviour. It involves 10 schools, with district and

school approval. Focused on class 11 students (15-

17yr), with 47.7% females and 53.3% males, data

analysed with IBM SPSS Modeler tool. A

questionnaire included 15 items on social media use,

demographics, and school details. Administered

during zero period under supervision. 480 students

participated, with 10 exclusions due to absence. Test

reliability was 99.8%.

Research questions: Does social media impact

parent-adolescent behaviour? How does social media

affect physical well-being?

Hypotheses: Social media affects parent-

adolescent behaviour. Social media engagement

impacts physical well-being.

6 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Nowadays, Higher Secondary School Students are

busy with extra classes and tuition which may be the

reason only get one hour for using the device. Hence,

the measurement is based on the social media usage

for one hour only and some of the 2 and 2+ social

media users are 9% less than the 1-hour users.

Figure 1: Social Media Usage Timing.

HYPOTHESIS TESTING Ho1. Social media usage

affects the behavior of higher secondary school students

towards their parents.

Figure 2: In ANOVA the ratio is known to follow the F distribution with 1 numerator degree of freedom.

Unravelling the Impact of Adolescent Social Media Usage on Parental Interaction and Physical Well Being: A Comprehensive Study

511

In mean square error distributing the error or sum

of squares by its associated degrees of freedom n-2.

Significance Value describe the rejection and

acceptance of null hypothesis (Sawyer, 2009). The

above table illustrates the significance value higher

than significance P value which is <.001b. The

studies of parents and child relationship, respondent

parents disagreed with the affective behaviour with

their child (Leijse et al., 2023; Moretti & Peled, 2004)

Hence, the statement rejected that “social media

usage affect the behaviour of higher secondary school

students towards their parents”

Ho2: The physical activity of higher secondary

school student’s physical well-being due to

engrossment in social media platforms.

The findings from the study underscore a

unanimous agreement among students across various

schools regarding the impact of social media on the

physical well-being of higher secondary school

students. A high percentage of students concurred on

this aspect, indicating a widespread recognition of the

influence of social media on physical health.

However, when examining specific behaviours

related to physical activity and media usage, a notable

portion of students expressed disagreement. For

instance, a significant percentage disagreed with the

habit of using phones during walks and using media

to postpone exercise. This discrepancy suggests a

nuanced understanding among students regarding the

relationship between social media engagement and

physical activity.

Regarding the impact on parent-adolescent

relationships, findings varied across schools. While

some students disagreed with the notion that social

media affects parent-adolescent behaviour, others

expressed agreement, particularly in the context of

using social media alone at home. Despite attempts to

control for variables such as social media usage time

and age, the longitudinal design revealed consistent

agreement among students regarding the impact on

physical well-being.

Strengths of the study include its longitudinal

design and large sample size, facilitating a

comprehensive understanding of problematic social

media usage among higher secondary school

students. However, limitations exist, such as the

potential for sampling bias, indicating the need for

future research to ensure greater representativeness.

7 CONCLUSION

The findings of this study shed light on the nuanced

relationship between social media usage and

adolescent well-being, particularly in the context of

parent-adolescent relationships and physical health.

Contrary to expectations, the study revealed that

social media usage does not significantly influence

parent-adolescent behaviour in Faridabad District.

However, concerning physical well-being, the results

indicate a notable impact of social media on higher

secondary school students, suggesting a need for

greater awareness and preventive measures.

These findings underscore the critical role of

parent-adolescent relationships in shaping adolescent

well-being, highlighting the importance of early

intervention and dialogue surrounding social media

use. Moving forward, it is imperative for educators,

parents, and policymakers to engage in ongoing

discussions regarding the potential risks and benefits

of social media, particularly in relation to adolescent

development. Moreover, recognising behaviour and

physical well-being as key determinants of personal

growth, efforts to address the negative influences of

social media must remain a priority to foster healthier,

more resilient adolescents in Faridabad and beyond.

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