How does social media materialism bring both stress and unhappiness?

The researchers from the Faculty of Psychology at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany acquired a total number of 1,230 people for the online survey. Participants were asked to make a use of any one social media platform once a week in to be eligible to take part. Participants estimated that they used social media more than 2 hours per day on average basis.

The team of researchers utilized the six various questionnaires to evaluate the degree of materialistic tendencies or attitudes between the participants. It involves their tendency to contrast themselves with others, to determine if they were more active or passive users of social media, or they had a social media addiction as well as how stressed and satisfied (pleased) they felt about their lives.

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Materialism, social media and mental health

The information suggested that an inclination to compare oneself to others and a stronger materialistic approach are connected. This comparison is particularly simple to draw through passive use on social media or by examining the material that other users have shared. Addiction to social media has also been related to both materialism as well as passive use. This causes signs of poor mental health, such as stress. The last step in the cycle is decreased life satisfaction or pleasure. Social networking is among the 6 paths which lead to unhappiness or distress.

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Social media risks

The psychologists said that as a whole, the study offers more proof that the use of social media is very risky, particularly for those who have a strong materialistic mindset. This is especially concerning as social media, such as by influencers in marketing, may simultaneously provoke as well as promote materialistic values or beliefs. Nevertheless the platforms are a perfect way of meeting a wider range of materialistic demands, they continued to attract materialists.

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A researcher said that it is undoubtedly a good decision to monitor as well as cutting down on the period of time an individual spend on social media. Additionally, the research team recommends keeping monitor on social media usage as well as materialism among the individuals receiving mental health treatment. Although, these criteria are not that much important, they can act as a basis for further actions that patients might try to attempt at home.

Materialistic people often have greater standards of living in comparison to others; it makes them passive as well as has addictive behavior towards social media platforms. This causes stress, lower life satisfaction as well as a focus on material possessions.