UAE Students’ Mental Well-Being in the Digital Era: The Emotional Cost of Social Media

Document Type

Book Chapter

Source of Publication

Implications for Students Mental Health in the Digital Age AI and Cyber Behavior

Publication Date

3-26-2026

Abstract

Social media has become a central part of youth culture in the UAE, but its excessive use is increasingly linked to mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and emotional fatigue among university students. This study examines the emotional and psychological effects of social media on Emirati youth, focusing on how cultural, religious, and family influences shape their online behavior and overall well-being. Using a qualitative interpretative approach, the study draws on a review of ten scholarly articles and in-depth interviews with twenty-two Emirati adolescents. The findings show that while social media provides platforms for connection and self-expression, it can also cause emotional distress, particularly when online experiences conflict with cultural and familial expectations. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive interventions, including family-centered digital literacy programs, school-based counseling services, and mental health awareness campaigns, to promote healthier and more balanced social media use aligned with Emirati values.

ISBN

[9798337342221, 9798337342238, 9798337342245]

ISSN

2327-0411

Publisher

IGI Global Scientific Publishing

First Page

179

Last Page

206

Disciplines

Computer Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences

Keywords

Mental health (0.65) | Social media (0.6) | Digital media (0.54) | Qualitative research (0.48) | Psychology (0.46) | Digital literacy (0.42) | Qualitative analysis (0.37) | Media literacy (0.36) | Digital era (0.35) | Literacy (0.34) | Sociology (0.33) | Emotional support (0.32) | Public relations (0.3) | Medical education (0.29) | Social psychology (0.29) | Digital divide (0.28) | Mental health literacy (0.27) | Digital health (0.27) | Mental illness (0.26)

Scopus ID

105036468629

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

Link to Full Text

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