Impact of Social Media in the Context of the Diathesis-Stress Model and the Vulnerability-Resilience Model on Successors with Schizophrenic Predisposition

Abstract

In today’s digitally connected world, social media has become a space for everyday human interaction – from routine exchanges to highly stressful encounters. There is limited understanding of how individuals with a predisposition to schizophrenia may be affected by new environmental stressors like social media. This study includes four parts: forming the resilience model for genetically predisposed participants, modeling vulnerability based on observational data, modeling vulnerability based on experimental data, and predicting risk using the Diathesis-Stress Interaction With Quasi Continuous Diathesis Model based on affected relatives. Qualitative data from these phases will increase awareness of social media’s mental health impacts. Findings may influence both individuals vulnerable to schizophrenia and frequent social media users. This study examines how reducing social media exposure may lessen schizophrenia symptom severity depending on genetic predisposition. I hypothesize that reduced social media usage will correspond with lower symptom severity. Participant journals will be scored for symptom severity and analyzed using ANOVA and regression to assess significance (p < 0.05) and relationships with genetic risk. Even those with low predisposition may develop symptoms under prolonged digital stress. Continued research could support policies that prioritize user well-being over profit.