The Relationship Between Media Usage and Mental Health Among Students Across Different Grades

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Faculty Sponsor: Professor Robert Kabacoff

Live Poster Session: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/93338805480

Cici Wang

Cici is a junior at Wesleyan University, double majoring in Film Studies and Economics, with a minor in Data Analysis.  She currently works as a research assistant on a digital humanities project, Chinatown Movie Theaters in North America. Beyond academics, Cici applies her analytical skills to practical business and branding challenges as a board member of the Wesleyan Marketing Club. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and watching movies.

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between the frequency of entertainment media usage and mental health outcomes among adolescents, with a focus on variations across different educational stages. While prior research has highlighted the negative effects of prolonged screen time on mental health, such as increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, limited attention has been given to the frequency of media engagement or how its impacts differ across student grades. By comparing students from different grades, this study seeks to determine whether more frequent media usage exacerbates mental health issues or if its effects plateau at a certain exposure level. The findings aim to inform tailored, grade-specific interventions to address the mental health challenges faced by adolescents.

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