Assessing the Impact of Social Media and Gaming Apps on Adolescent Mental Health in West Bengal

Abstract

The increasing use of social media and gaming apps has raised concerns about their impact on adolescent mental health. This study examines the effects of social media and gaming app usage on stress, anxiety, and depression among secondary school students in West Bengal. A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from 328 students through a snowball sampling technique. Standardized instruments, including the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short Form (IGDS9-SF), and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), were used for data collection. The results show that male students are more addicted to gaming apps, while female students are more addicted to social media. Female students also experience higher stress, anxiety, and depression than males. Rural students have higher levels of social media and gaming addiction, as well as greater stress, anxiety, and depression, compared to urban students. These findings highlight the need for mental health awareness programs and digital well-being strategies, particularly for female and rural students, to help manage the negative effects of excessive social media and gaming use.