Nurses' perspectives on social media and its impact on mental health
A qualitative study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2026.60.Suppl.1.3333Keywords:
digital tools, e-professionalism, habits, digital literacy, nurses, digitalisationAbstract
Introduction: Nurses report using social networking sites for one to three hours daily, primarily to share work-related information. The aim of this study was to determine nurses' perspectives on social networking use in the context of mental health.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive research method was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using three sets of questions: (1) social networks, (2) mental health, and (3) e-professionalism. The purposive sample comprised 17 nurses aged 20 to 64 years, working in various healthcare settings. Their responses were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Data analysis identified three main themes: (1) nurses' perspectives on social media use, (2) the use of social media in the professional context of nursing, and (3) nurses’ perspectives on the impact of social media on mental health. Respondents emphasised that the influence of social media depends on the type of content individuals are exposed to. They highlighted the importance of reliable information sources, the presence of violent or harmful content, the amount of time spent on social media, and issues related to patient privacy and the maintenance of the professional reputation of nursing.
Discussion and conclusion: Nurses believe that social media have a significant impact on mental health. There is a need to integrate e-professionalism into educational programmes to promote responsible and safe use of social media in both professional and private contexts.
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