SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND THE LEVEL OF STRESS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN KOSOVO

Abstract

The Covid-19 widespread is likely to extend the hazard of dependent social media utilize (SMU) as individuals spend more time online keeping up network when face-to-face communication is restricted. And all this can have consequences for the mental health of the population. The main purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between the use of news for Covid-19 transmitted in social media and the level of stress during the pandemic. The quantitative methodology was used to conduct a cross-sectional in Kosovo, distributing an online survey on social media use and stress measurement. The sample of this research were278 people who fulfilled the online survey, of whom n = 172, or 61.9%, were female and n = 106, or 38.1%, were male. Data collected with online survey are elaborated and analyzed with SPSS. The results obtained from this research revealed a strong positive correlation between social media use and stress level (r =.587**; p =.001).Regarding the age differences in the use of social networks, the results showed the difference χ2 (2) = 7.053, p = .029. In terms of gender differences in social media use and stress levels, there are no differences.