This study examines the relationship between senior high school students’ exercise habits and the impact of social media use on mental health. A total of 228 students from grades 10 to 12 participated in the study through a questionnaire survey. The key findings reveal several important patterns. First, students’ primary motivations for engaging in exercise included promoting physical health, relieving stress, maintaining a good physique, and improving mood. Second, students used social media for various purposes, such as passing time, staying connected with friends, searching for information of interest, playing games, and sharing personal thoughts and experiences. Third, the study found that students who exercised more frequently and for longer durations reported better mental health. In contrast, spending more time on social media per day was negatively associated with mental well-being. This suggests that while physical activity has a positive effect, excessive social media use may contribute to emotional distress. Fourth, students reported feeling happier after exercising than after using social media, indicating that physical activity provides greater emotional benefits. Lastly, factors such as the absence of depression, maintaining good lifestyle habits, positive peer relationships, and strong family support played a crucial role in promoting adolescents’ mental health. These findings emphasize the need for students to balance their time between exercise and social media use. Schools and families should encourage regular physical activity while helping students develop healthy digital habits to support their overall development and well-being.

Authors:
Yu Tzou, National Chengchi University, Taiwan
Yu-chu Yeh, National Chengchi University, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Yu-chu Yeh is a University Professor/Principal Lecturer at National Chengchi University in Taiwan

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yu-chu-yeh-8ba911110/

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yu-Chu-Yeh

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