MJAAR

Social Media And Mental Health: A Case Of Nsambya Hospital, Kampala, Uganda

Nabwire Viola, Freeman Crispus


Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between social media use and mental health, using patients and staff associated with Nsambya Hospital, Kampala, as the case. Social media has become deeply embedded in daily life, and concerns have grown about its psychological effects, especially among young adults. The main objective was to examine the relationship between social media use and mental health outcomes. Three specific objectives guided the study: to establish patterns of social media use; to assess the effect of social media use on anxiety, depression, and self-esteem; and to determine the relationship between intensity of use and mental health outcomes. A cross-sectional correlational design was used with 150 respondents selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using standardised scales adapted for the setting and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. Results showed that heavy and problematic social media use was positively correlated with anxiety (r = 0.54) and depressive symptoms (r = 0.49) and negatively correlated with self-esteem (r = −0.42), all significant at p < 0.01. Regression indicated that intensity of use and problematic use jointly explained 46% of the variance in poor mental health outcomes. The study concluded that social media use is a significant, though not sole, contributor to mental health strain, and recommended digital-wellbeing education and screening in health settings. This article discusses a sensitive topic; readers affected by these issues are encouraged to seek professional support.

Keywords

Social media mental health anxiety depression self-esteem Nsambya Hospital Uganda
Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research

Cite This Article

Nabwire Viola & Freeman Crispus (2026). Social Media And Mental Health: A Case Of Nsambya Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research, 5(7). https://journals.miu.ac.ug/pages/article.php?article_id=711

More in This Issue

View full issue →
26
Teacher Quality, School Resourcing, and Downstream Skills Deficits: A Multilevel Regression Model
Dr. Arinaitwe Julius, Ahumuza Audrey, Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara
teacher quality; school resourcing; skills deficits; multilevel regression; mixed-effects model; intraclass
27
Technological Advancements and Business Growth: A Case of Airtel Uganda
Sserunjogi Samuel, Irumba Alex
Technological advancement; business growth; telecommunications; mobile money; network
28
Technological Innovation in Business Growth in Uganda: A Case Study of Tito General Hardware, Kasangati
Nannozi Caroline Maria, Mwesigwa Henry
Technological innovation; business growth; small and growing businesses; process innovation;
29
The Effect of Synthetic Chemicals on Land Use Management in Uganda: A Case Study of Njeru Municipality, Buikwe District
Mugume Kennedy, Akello Veronica
Synthetic chemicals; agrochemicals; pesticides; land use management; soil degradation; land
30
The Effectiveness of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) in Promoting Procurement Transparency at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)
Nyamwiza Priscilla, Irumba Alex
Public procurement; procurement transparency; PPDA; e-GP; regulatory effectiveness;