A mixed-methods study of depressive-symptom severity among Thai university students and the underestimated role of social media
4 affiliations
- 1College of Biomedical Engineering, Rangsit University , ,
- 2Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki , ,
- 3Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University , ,
- 4Health Welfare Office, Rangsit University , ,
Abstract
Purpose
University students face academic, social, economic, and digital stressors. Social-media use may be under-recognized as a correlate of depressive symptoms because online engagement is often viewed as routine communication, leisure, and academic activity. This study examined factors associated with depressive-symptom severity among Thai university students and explored the mismatch between perceived stressors and the observed association with social-media use.Methods
A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted among 789 undergraduates at Rangsit University, Thailand. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), categorized as low symptoms (0-15), mild-to-moderate (16-26), or severe (27-60) symptoms. Associations were examined using χ ² tests and ordinal logistic regression. A purposive subsample of 12 students participated in semi-structured interviews on social-media routines, online comparison, nighttime use and sleep, coping, social support, and help-seeking. All interviews were audio-recorded and supplemented by contemporaneous field notes. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically and integrated with quantitative findings through joint comparison.Results
Clinically significant depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 16) were reported by 49.68% of students. Academic year, major, GPAX, primary source of personal support, and daily social-media use were independently associated with symptom severity. Compared with students using social media >3 h/day, those using it <1 h/day (OR = 0.125, 95% CI: 0.040-0.391) or 1-3 h/day (OR = 0.424, 95% CI: 0.278-0.647) had lower odds of greater symptom severity. Internet/social-media use ranked only fifth among eight perceived stressors (37.01% agreement). Three qualitative themes described social media as an embedded and ambivalent part of student life, psychological effects shaped by patterns and interpretations of use, and distress managed mainly through self-coping and trusted informal support.Conclusion
The key mixed-methods finding was a perception-association mismatch: social-media use was not perceived as a leading stressor yet showed the strongest adjusted association with depressive-symptom severity among the factors examined. These cross-sectional findings do not establish causality but support digital-wellbeing assessment beyond duration alone.
Related
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- Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Guangdong University Students: A Cross-Sectional Moderated Serial Indirect-Association Model Involving Self-Esteem, Positive Psychological Capital, and Perceived Social Support.
- The nonlinear relationship between symptoms of internet addiction and depressive symptoms: an empirical study among Chinese university students
- Perceptions and psychosocial correlates of e-cigarette use among Hong Kong university students: A mixed-methods study.
BibTeX
@article{boonkrong2026mixedmethods,
title = {{A mixed-methods study of depressive-symptom severity among Thai university students and the underestimated role of social media}},
author = {Pichit Boonkrong and Kodchakorn Khunboonjun and Subij Shakya and Junwei Yang and Naphatsakon Vitoonmetha and Manaporn Chatchumni},
journal = {Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/frcha.2026.1907727},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13716781},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A mixed-methods study of depressive-symptom severity among Thai university students and the underestimated role of social media
AU - Pichit Boonkrong
AU - Kodchakorn Khunboonjun
AU - Subij Shakya
AU - Junwei Yang
AU - Naphatsakon Vitoonmetha
AU - Manaporn Chatchumni
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/15
JO - Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry
DO - 10.3389/frcha.2026.1907727
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13716781
AB - Purpose University students face academic, social, economic, and digital stressors. Social-media use may be under-recognized as a correlate of depressive symptoms because online engagement is often viewed as routine communication, leisure, and academic activity. This study examined factors associated with depressive-symptom severity among Thai university students and explored the mismatch between perceived stressors and the observed association with social-media use.Methods A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted among 789 undergraduates at Rangsit University, Thailand. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), categorized as low symptoms (0-15), mild-to-moderate (16-26), or severe (27-60) symptoms. Associations were examined using χ ² tests and ordinal logistic regression. A purposive subsample of 12 students participated in semi-structured interviews on social-media routines, online comparison, nighttime use and sleep, coping, social support, and help-seeking. All interviews were audio-recorded and supplemented by contemporaneous field notes. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically and integrated with quantitative findings through joint comparison.Results Clinically significant depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 16) were reported by 49.68% of students. Academic year, major, GPAX, primary source of personal support, and daily social-media use were independently associated with symptom severity. Compared with students using social media >3 h/day, those using it <1 h/day (OR = 0.125, 95% CI: 0.040-0.391) or 1-3 h/day (OR = 0.424, 95% CI: 0.278-0.647) had lower odds of greater symptom severity. Internet/social-media use ranked only fifth among eight perceived stressors (37.01% agreement). Three qualitative themes described social media as an embedded and ambivalent part of student life, psychological effects shaped by patterns and interpretations of use, and distress managed mainly through self-coping and trusted informal support.Conclusion The key mixed-methods finding was a perception-association mismatch: social-media use was not perceived as a leading stressor yet showed the strongest adjusted association with depressive-symptom severity among the factors examined. These cross-sectional findings do not establish causality but support digital-wellbeing assessment beyond duration alone.
SN - 2813-4540
ER -