Study suggests WhatsApp is actually good for your mental well-being

Though social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram have previously been linked to having a bad effect on mental health, new study suggests that WhatsApp might actually be ‘good’ for psychological health.

Researchers from Edge Hill University discovered that spending time by interacting with friends and family on popular messaging platform WhatsApp is actually good for a person’s psychological well-being as the subjects reported higher levels of self-esteem and less lonely feeling.

“There’s lots of debate about whether spending time on social media is bad for our well-being but we’ve found it might not be as bad as we think,” said co-author Linda Kaye. “The more time people spent on WhatsApp, the more this related to them feeling close to their friends and family and they perceived these relationships to be good quality.”

Study finds limiting social media usage to 30 min can reduce depression

As per Independent, the research involved 200 social media users with 158 women and 42 men, with an average age of 24. The participants spent an average of 55 minutes per day.The study suggested that group conversations and individual chats actually benefit people through offering social support.

Kaye explained that the more closely bonded the friendships were and the more people felt connected with their WhatsApp groups, they showed more boost in self-esteem and positive social competence.

“Group affiliation also meant that WhatsApp users were less lonely. It seems that using WhatsApp to connect with our close friends is favorable for aspects of our well-being,” Kaye mentioned, as per Metro.

Kaye further added, “It gives rise to the notion that social technology such as WhatsApp may stimulate existing relationships and opportunities for communication, thereby enhancing aspects of the users’ positive well-being.”