KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 3, 2026

The American Psychological Association estimates that teens are spending an average of five hours a day on social media. At Kennesaw State University, one student is examining whether this prolonged use can also impact their mental health.

Through KSU’s First-Year Scholars Program, Chance Lundy, a Keeping Sights Upward Journey Honors College student, studied the relationship between frequent social media use and suicidal ideation among adolescents. The research comes at a particularly important time as September is National Suicide Prevention Month, bringing renewed attention to youth mental health.

“I have seen secondhand some of the effects that it can have,” said Lundy, an aspiring nurse. “We can come up with our own theories and hypotheses, but I wanted to take a deeper dive and look into the actual statistics.”

Working with Assistant Professor of Nursing Ashley Barber, Lundy analyzed data from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a national survey of high school students. He examined variables including students’ age, social media use, mental health, and hobbies. Then, he focused on whether frequent use was associated with reports of seriously considering suicide.

His analysis found that roughly a third of students who said they use social media multiple times a day also reported mental health struggles within the previous month.

Lundy points out though, that this correlation does not imply social media directly causes suicidal thoughts. But it does highlight the need to pay closer attention to young people’s usage and what they are consuming online.

“Social media itself isn’t all bad,” Lundy explained. “The danger lies in excessive, unmoderated use, and then there are also specific effects like cyber victimization, fear of missing out and body dysmorphia.”

Barber added that the findings highlight the importance of studying these patterns to better understand and identify risks and when support may be needed.

“As social media continues to be a major part of adolescents’ lives, understanding its relationship with mental health is increasingly important,” said Barber. “By examining the relationship between social media use and suicidal ideation, we hope to better understand patterns that could help parents, healthcare providers, and others who work with teens recognize where additional support may be needed.”

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to do research in the First-Year Scholars Program, Lundy said working on the project helped to build his research skills as well as help him grow as a public speaker, especially after presenting his findings at the Georgia Collegiate Honors Council Conference and the KSU Symposium of Student Scholars earlier this year. 

“Research happens to be one of the things that I truly enjoy,” Lundy said. “You can truly fall in love with it and realize that you can make a change.”

He hopes to continue his research into social media and mental health, this time focusing more on the content adolescents consume and its impact.

“Chance's research adds another important voice to the ongoing conversation around social media and its relationship with mental health,” said Melanie Covert, executive director at KSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). “In the CAPS center, we have first-hand experience with this relationship and with students who are experiencing the exact challenges Chance highlights.”

KSU has extensive resources to help support students who may struggle with mental health and partners with other members of the KSU Community to offer wellness services, including:

• Individual counseling and psychiatric referrals and groups spanning a wide range of issues via the CAPS
• A 24/7 campus health support line that students in crisis can call at 833-874-0013 or CAPS at 470-578-6600.
• The KSU Healthy Eating and Living (HEAL) team, which supports students in addressing eating disorders and increasing body appreciation.
• The Center for Addiction Recovery, Prevention & Education which provides students with recovery-based programs.
• Free web-based counseling services for all KSU students through a partnership with UWill.

– Story by Christin Senior

Photo provided

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.