Exploring the Motivational Experiences of Social Media Users in the Path Toward Mental Health Improvement

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and explore the motivational experiences of social media users in the path toward mental health improvement. This qualitative research employed a phenomenological approach. Participants included 22 active social media users from Tehran who had consciously engaged with social platforms to improve their mental well-being. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software. Three main themes emerged from the data: (1) intrinsic motivations for using social media to enhance mental health (such as meaning-making, emotional expression, and psychological self-efficacy), (2) the role of social interactions in psychological recovery (including emotional support, constructive social comparison, and formation of psychological social identity), and (3) the influence of platform content and features on motivational processes (e.g., access to therapeutic content, modeling inspired users, and conscious content filtering). The findings indicate that intentional and mindful use of social media can serve as a motivational and self-help tool in promoting mental health. These results highlight the potential psychological benefits of social media and underscore the need to incorporate such platforms into therapeutic and educational interventions.