Introduction
Introduction
This research surveyed six different sources that examined the Covid-19 pandemic, screen-time hobbies, habits, and the effects of activities on students’ mental health. These sources provide a framework for building survey questions, analyzing the mental health effects of Covid-19, and comparing some hobbies’ effects on mental health regardless of Covid-19.
Not All Screen Time is Equal
It is almost common knowledge to conclude that the pandemic has led to an increased usage of screen time among adolescents and young adults. More time spent at home likely has meant that distractions such as television, gaming, the internet, and social media have become more enticing ways to pass time. However, despite their popularity, these hobbies may have led to an increase in mental health issues if left unregulated (Twenge & Farley, 2020). Twenge and Farley (2020) studied the mental health effects of screen time on 13-15-year-old boys and girls in the United Kingdom (UK). Social media and internet use, in particular, had the most negative impact on adolescent girls. The research added that the longer adolescent girls spent on social media or the internet, the more they experienced “self-harm behaviors, depressive symptoms, low life satisfaction, and low self-esteem” (p. 207).
The study determined that social media and internet use were more harmful to an individual’s mental health than video games or TV watching (Twenge & Farley, 2020). However, gaming and television watching were less likely to instigate social comparison because they do not have as many elements of anonymity, permanent messaging, and social contact. The largest statistic demonstrated that 36.4% of girls felt they had lower self-esteem when using the internet for more than five hours and 36.2% felt the same way using social media for similar amounts of time. For boys, the data concluded that screen time was less likely to cause depressive symptoms; 16.1% felt a lower life satisfaction when consuming more than five hours of social media daily (Twenge & Farley, 2020). Comparatively, the negative effects of screen time were more prominent in girls, even if they spent less than or equal to one hour each day on the platform. Even when spending a small amount of time using a screen, it was far more likely that girls saw more negative effects on their mental health than boys. It showed that certain groups of individuals may be more vulnerable to a negative mental health outcome when overconsuming certain electronic hobbies.
Activity Participation and Perceived Health Status in Patients with Severe Mental Illness
Ng et al. (2020) examined patients who suffered from a form of severe mental illness (SMI), such as psychosis, depression, and schizophrenia, and the connections between somatic (physical) and mental wellbeing along with how certain activities affect them (Ng et al., 2020). Three activity categories were defined by the research: basic-care, interest-based (watching television, doing simple craftwork, reading newspapers, and outdoor sports activities such as soccer, badminton, and Tai Chi), and role-based activities or life goal-oriented activities (domestic work training, work-related training selected by the patient and case therapist) that the participants could join in or decline at any time. The research observed 84 patients between the ages of 16 and 63 throughout their hospital stays and measured their somatic and mental health before and after their stay. The results found that “physical activities result in decreased illness symptoms in 57.4% of patients, with only a few reported negative effects” (p. 99). Overall, the study concluded that “participating in activities of patients’ own choice and interests is positively associated with patients’ psychiatric and somatic health and subjective wellbeing” (p. 99). The positive effects of these activities could be seen up to a month after release from the hospital and consistent participation could be a useful nonpharmacological treatment for SMI patients. If patients participated in these activities for longer periods, the results would be more beneficial to their health (Ng et al., 2020). This study indicated that interest-based activities were beneficial for mental and physical health, even in significant cases of mental health challenges.
Older Adults’ Experience of the Covid-19 Pandemic
Whitehead and Torossian (2020) used an online survey to disclose the most common sources of stress and joy during the Covid-19 pandemic. It examined the demographic of 825 “older adults” (p. 36) aged 60 and older in the United States and asked them questions relating to 20 sources of stress and 21 sources of joy they felt during the pandemic. The 20 sources of stress included the following:
Restrictions/confinement, concern for others, isolation/loneliness, unknown future, shopping, government, news, nothing, house stresses, adapting to change, work, economy/finances, lack of motivation/focus, getting/preventing the virus, mental health/focus, boredom, health (not virus related), other people, unable to help, weather, and miscellaneous. (Whitehead & Torossian, 2020, p. 40)
The 21 sources of joy were “family/friends, digital interaction, hobbies, pets, spouse/partner, faith, nature, peace of mind, exercise/self-care, grandkids, food/drink, helping, productivity, extra time, work, neighbors, nothing, miscellaneous, humor, and government” (p. 40). The top three sources of joy were family/friends (31.6%), digital contact (21.9%), and hobbies (19.3%), and the top three sources of stress were confinement (13.2%), concern for others, (12.4%), and isolation/loneliness (11.8%) (Whitehead & Torossian, 2020).
Their study stated that hobbies were a reliable source of joy among even older demographics, and also provided a template for the causation of stress during the pandemic. However, the sources of stress that had a significant negative effect on mental health were concerns for others, the unknown future, and contracting the virus. The sources of joy that had the most positive mental health outcomes consisted of faith (11.5%), nature (11%), and exercise/self-care (>10%) (Whitehead & Torossian, 2020). The sources of joy that led to more positive well-being were not even in the top three among participants. Unless hobbies involve a combination of exercise, faith, and nature, it is likely to assume that some hobbies may be beneficial for mental health, but only to a certain extent. Their study indicated that hobbies can be a source of de-stress for adults but that it is also essential to maintain other sources of happiness, such as exercise, for the best mental health outcomes. The study lists several stresses and joys that people experience specifically during the pandemic. Whitehead & Torossian (2020) provided a framework for comparison to this current study.
Association of Enjoyable Leisure Activities With Psychological and Physical Well-Being
Pressman et al. (2009) researched the connection between hobbies and mental and physical wellbeing. Hobbies, called leisure activities in the study, were defined as “pleasurable activities that individuals engage in voluntarily when they are free from the demands of work or other responsibilities… includ[ing] hobbies, sports, socializing, or spending time in nature” (p. 2). Adult participants reported how they felt after participating in 10 different activities by measuring their “resting blood pressure, cortisol (over two days), body mass index, waist circumference, and perceived physiological function” (p. 1). The activities included “spending quiet time alone; spending time unwinding; visiting others; eating with others; doing fun things with others; club, fellowship, and religious group participation; vacationing; communing with nature; sports; and hobbies” (p. 4). The importance of this study was to focus on the impact positive behaviors have on an individual’s overall health. Participants reported that “engaging in multiple types of leisure activities plays a role in buffering the negative psychological impact of stress” (p. 9). Pressman et al.’s (2009) study provided a link between hobbies and improved overall wellbeing. It also outlined the benefits of an individual engaging in multiple hobbies to maintain a well-balanced lifestyle.
Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic and Lockdown on Lifestyle and Mental Health of Students
Ali et al.’s (2021) study examined how Covid-19 restrictions around the world impacted the mental health of university students. Ali et al. researched how pandemic lockdowns impacted the health and lifestyle of students in Pakistan. Through a series of close-ended survey questions, participants provided information about their demographic, perception of time during the pandemic, sleep patterns, digital media usage, and mental health. Ali et al. (2021) discovered that for most participants, “getting through quarantine would have been more difficult if they did not have any electronic gadgets” (p. 1). They also uncovered an increase in social media usage during the pandemic which resulted in worse sleep habits and worse student mental health. If students went to sleep later, they would not get high-quality sleep which could cause tiredness and a lack of motivation. It is possible that participating in hobbies requiring physical activity, such as sports, could counteract the impacts of extended social media usage. The study recommends “promoting better sleep routines, minimizing the use of digital media, and encouragement of students to take up more hobbies could collectively improve the health and mood of students in self-quarantine” (p. 1). Ali et al.’s (2021) research contributed to this current study by establishing that the need for rest helps maintain an individual’s mental health. Their study also indicated that an increased use of social media and electronic devices during the Covid-19 pandemic had negative impacts on students.
Psychology of Habit
Wood and Rünger (2016) examined the neuroscience behind habit formation by providing three ways that habits help people pursue their goals. First and foremost, the research explained that habits are a series of repeated actions. When people choose a hobby, they respond to a set of circumstances by picking an activity they can participate in consistently. In this current study, people might report trying to combat the isolation of online classes by scheduling Facetime calls with friends to foster connection and bring happiness. Another reason for choosing a hobby is the connection to reaching a goal. Chasing after a goal can motivate someone to repeat a hobby. If someone is trying to learn a language, they will practice repeatedly to become fluent. Additionally, if an individual chooses to run as a hobby, they must train consistently before running a marathon. Finally, people make an intentional choice when selecting a hobby (Wood and Rünger, 2016). In other words, habits are formed when people repeatedly make the same decisions for the same reasons. A worldwide pandemic provided people with more time to make those decisions and choose hobbies for different reasons. Wood and Rünger’s (2016) study contributed to this current study by exploring the motivation behind partaking in certain hobbies and what impacts those hobbies can have on participants’ mental health.
