A Study on Information and Communication Technology Users, Psychological Distress and Social Support Among Young Adults

Abstract

Social media’s ascent in recent decades has changed how people engage, communicate, and support one another. The analysis was conducted on a sample of 140 participants, equally divided into two groups namely male and female. Descriptive statistics revealed that participants identified as female reported slightly higher ICT usage scores, greater perceived social support, and elevated levels of psychological distress (including stress, anxiety, and depression) compared to their male counterparts. Further correlation analysis supported several meaningful findings. ICT usage was found to have a small but statistically significant positive correlation with stress, anxiety, and depression. A strong negative correlation was observed between ICT usage and perceived social support scores. Moreover, there were strong positive correlations among stress, anxiety, and depression, with an almost perfect correlation between anxiety and depression, emphasizing the interconnected nature of psychological distress components. These findings contribute to the growing body of literature on the psychological implications of digital connectivity.