SOCIAL MEDIA USE, LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY, AND ITS IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH IN THREE DISTINCT POPULATION SAMPLES FROM LIMA

Sánchez Carlessi H.H.; Palacios Gil R.R.; Galván Ayala G.A.; Reyes Romero C. · Revista de la Facultad de Medicina Humana (2025) · DOI: 10.25176/rfmh.v25i2.7613

Resumen

Introduction: Intensive use of social media increases the sense of uncertainty, which is associated with higher levels of anxiety and stress. Objective: To examine whether these effects vary by age and occupation, structural equation modeling was used. This statistical technique maps paths between variables to evaluate their interaction. Multigroup invariance was also tested to determine whether the questionnaire functioned similarly across secondary students, university students, and workers. Methods: A total of 1,285 volunteers participated, recruited through non-probabilistic sampling. The sample included 434 secondary school students, 539 university students, and 312 employees. Model fit was assessed using two standard indicators: the Comparative Fit Index (CFI) and the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA). CFI values close to 1 and RMSEA values below .05 indicate a good fit between the model and the data. Results: The relationships among social media use, uncertainty, anxiety, and stress were stable across the three groups, with a CFI of .998 and an RMSEA of .024. However, scalar invariance, which compares latent means between groups, was not fully achieved, as shown by a CFI decrease of −.025 and an RMSEA increase of .027. This suggests caution when comparing average scores. Conclusion: Uncertainty mediates the relationship between social media use and emotional distress. Secondary students are especially sensitive to the direct effects of social media use, while among workers, uncertainty more strongly explains their levels of anxiety and stress. These differences highlight the need for targeted preventive interventions and mental health campaigns tailored to each group.

Instituciones: Universidad Ricardo Palma