J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2022 Jun;31(2):230-240. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2022.31.2.230.

Effectiveness of a Mental Health Program using Instagram (Friendship Town) for Newly Entered Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Kim JE
• Jung M

• KMID: 2531647
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2022.31.2.230

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a mental health program utilizing Instagram for nursing students.
Methods
A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Fifty-seven nursing students who enrolled in a university during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea participated in the study: 30 nursing students (26 females and 4 males) in the experimental group and 27 nursing students (21 females and 6 males) in the control group. The Instagram Program for mental health provided 8 sessions for each topic. The data collected via questionnaires were statistically analyzed.
Results
Significant differences were found between the two groups in depression (t=-2.32, p=.024) and anxiety (t=-2.43, p=.018), but there was no significant difference in loneliness (t=0.64, p=.263).
Conclusion
The Instagram program is accessible for incoming nursing students and effective in decreasing their depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 era. Therefore, this intervention could enhance the mental health of nursing students by allowing them to express their thoughts and feelings through mutual interaction on Instagram.

Keyword

COVID-19; Loneliness; Mental health; Social media; Students, Nursing; 간호대학생; 정신건강; 소셜미디어; 코로나19