Exploring the impact of social media mental health content on behavior

Examining the Effects of Mental Health Content on Help-Seeking and Self-Diagnosing Behavior: Cross-sectional Survey Study

Yale-NUS College · NCT06440798

This study is looking at how mental health posts on social media affect people's decisions to seek help and how they view their own mental health.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment600 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 34 Years
SexAll
SponsorYale-NUS College (other)
Locations1 site (Singapore)
Trial IDNCT06440798 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to investigate the relationship between mental health content on social media and health behaviors, particularly focusing on help-seeking and self-diagnosis. Utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior, the study will conduct a cross-sectional survey with over 600 participants to assess their exposure to various types of mental health content and their mental well-being. The research will gather baseline measures, including depression and anxiety scores, to understand how these factors influence health behaviors. The findings could provide valuable insights into the effects of social media on mental health.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are healthy adults aged 21-34 who actively use social media and have lived in Singapore for at least two years.

Not a fit: Patients who are uncomfortable discussing mental health topics or do not use social media may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance understanding of how social media influences mental health behaviors, potentially guiding interventions to promote positive help-seeking behaviors.

How similar studies have performed: While there is emerging research on social media's impact on mental health, this specific approach examining the relationship between mental health content and health behaviors is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Enrollment is restricted to healthy adults between 21-34 (or 18-34 for university students)
* Use at least one social media platform (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X)
* Participants need to be able to read and understand English.
* Participants must also have lived in Singapore for at least 2 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Anyone who does not feel comfortable answering questions related to mental health and exposure to mental health-related content online.

Where this trial is running

Singapore

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Help-Seeking Behavior, Psych, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Mental Health Content

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.