Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of Armenian Adolescents in Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Adolescent mental health can be influenced by digital behaviors, including social media use, yet its impact in minority populations is poorly understood. This cross-sectional study examined associations between social media use and mental health outcomes in 399 Armenian adolescents attending private schools in Lebanon. Participants completed an online questionnaire measuring depression, anxiety, and stress using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and social media usage via an adapted Social Media Use Scale (SMUS), classifying participants as low users (< 2 h/day) or moderate-to-heavy users (≥ 2 h/day). Moderate-to-heavy social media use was linked to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, with females reporting greater emotional difficulties. Limitations include reliance on self-reported data, absence of cultural validation for the DASS-21 and SMUS, exclusion of adolescents with psychiatric diagnoses, and restriction to English-speaking students in private schools, limiting generalizability. Findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive interventions, school-based programs, and family strategies that promote balanced digital engagement and psychological well-being within minority communities.