Well-Being and Instagram Use Among University Students

Introduction

Universities are mainly interested in students’ short-term needs and expectations such as achievement in examinations, passing the class, and graduation in a traditional education context, while long-term advantages of well-being are neglected. However, there are good reasons that make well-being important among university students. As Diener and Biswas-Diener (2011) underline, “Happy people live longer, succumb to fewer illnesses, stay married longer, commit fewer crimes, produce more creative ideas, work harder and better on the job, make more money, and help others more” (p. 20). Thus, well-being among university students is vital in enabling their short-term aims and long-term benefits in their professional and social lives. Well-being enhances students’ academic performance (Furlong et al., 2012), achievement (Bentea, 2017), and motivation, prevents disciplinary problems, causes school satisfaction, and finally, results in the flourishing of individuals and society (Bücker et al., 2018). Moreover, as Cameron (2012, p. 26) points out, “Inducing positive emotions enlarges cognitive perspectives and enhances the ability of individuals to attend to more information, make richer interpretations, and experience higher levels of creativity and productivity”. Academic achievement without happiness at university may not suffice, as Achor (2012, p. 14) states:

“What was going on here was that like so many people in contemporary society, along the way to gaining their superb educations, and their shiny opportunities, they had absorbed the wrong lessons. They had mastered formulas in calculus and chemistry. They had read great books and learned world history and become fluent in foreign languages. But they had never formally been taught how to maximize their brains’ potential or how to find meaning and happiness.”

In summary, well-being among university students constitutes a considerable place and role since it nurtures the whole life regarding relationships, creativity, profession, and health positively affects academic performance and achievement, contributes to social integration, and increases academic motivation and interaction (Bates & Boren, 2019).

Instagram that has taken an important place in university students’ lives may be associated with their well-being for several reasons. Instagram can be used to maintain relationships (Diener et al., 2017), stay connected with people they care (Sheldon & Bryant, 2016), ameliorate loneliness (Pittman & Reich, 2016), and increase interaction with others (Booker et al., 2018). Instagram can be used to socialize and meet new people (Antheunis et al., 2013), create a sense of belonging (Seabrook et al., 2016), and have support and advice from others (Nabi et al., 2013). Although Instagram can positively affect relationship building and socialization, it can also have negative effects. Instagram is frequently a source of social comparison and emotional contagion that are linked to well-being (Choi & Kim, 2020). Moreover, the use of Instagram may be dysfunctional, depending on the time, purpose, and manner of use (Graciyal & Viswam, 2021). Below, before presenting a brief synthesis of prior research, a theoretical framework regarding well-being and Instagram is drawn.