Social media as a means to overcome stress and depression among women

Abstract

Depression constitutes a serious challenge in personal and public health. Tens of millions of people each year suffer from depression and only a fraction receives treatment (de Choudhury, 2013). Stress and depression drains one of the feel-good factors essential to sustain the energy that gives the impetuous to hope and move forward. Depression in women is made more complex because of factors such as reproductive hormones and social pressures. Social media platforms make the way to connect with the public, disseminating helpful information, and establishing control over their online presence. The study analyzes the stress and depression of women-related information on the select pages of Facebook and videos of YouTube. Social Norms Theory and Agenda Setting Theory are employed as theoretical frameworks. Content analysis of Facebook pages and YouTube videos which deal with stress-and depression-related information related to women were undertaken to measure the type and content of messages. The key findings of the study are as follows: Majority of the social media users suggested traditional methods such as physical exercise and yoga to overcome stress and depression; In YouTube, reality videos were mostly used followed by demonstration, testimonial and animation formats: and social media sets the agenda for women with regard to responses to stress and depression, and helps reinforce and redefine social norms amidst patriarchy.