Instagram Usage and Mental Health in Young Adults: A Quantitative Study Using DASS-21

Abstract

Background

The rising prevalence of social media use among youth has prompted growing concern about its psychological implications. Platforms such as Instagram, which prioritises visual content and lifestyle displays, has been associated with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and stress. However, limited research in the Indian context has specifically addressed the mental health outcomes associated with content-specific engagement, particularly with food and restaurant-related imagery.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the association between Instagram usage frequency and mental health, measured through depression, anxiety and stress among youth aged 16–25 years in Pune, India. It further examined whether higher engagement with restaurant and food-related content correlates with increased psychological distress.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 participants using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale–21 (DASS-21) and a structured Instagram usage questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis to evaluate associations between usage patterns and psychological outcomes.

Results

The majority of participants (93%) reported daily Instagram use, with 32% categorised as heavy users (>3 hours/day). Heavy users showed significantly higher DASS-21 scores across all subscales. Depression (p = .003), anxiety (p = .019) and stress (p < .001) scores increased in a stepwise manner from light to heavy users. Participants who frequently followed restaurant-related content and acted upon such recommendations, reported significantly elevated stress and anxiety levels. Regression models confirmed that both total usage and content-specific engagement independently predicted psychological distress.

Conclusion

Frequent Instagram use and high engagement with food and restaurants content is associated with elevated levels of depression, anxiety and stress in young adults. These findings emphasise the need for targeted digital literacy and mental health interventions tailored to content consumption behaviours in emerging adults.

Introduction

There is growing evidence of a youth mental health crisis. Research indicates that excessive social media engagement can contribute to negative psychological outcomes, often attributed to mechanisms such as social comparison and exposure to idealised lifestyles.^1–4 Image-centric platforms such as Instagram have been identified as particularly detrimental; for instance, a UK survey ranked Instagram as the worst social network for youth mental health and well-being, linked it to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety and fear of missing out (FOMO).^5–8 The constant stream of carefully curated images—including those of friends at trendy restaurants or influencers showcasing lavish meals—can foster unrealistic expectations and social comparisons.^9–11 Young viewers may compare their own lives to the highlight reels they see, potentially leading to lowered self-esteem, envy or a sense of missing out on enjoyable experiences.^{12, 13} Neurological evidence suggests social media use taps into brain reward pathways (via dopamine release), reinforcing repeated use; however, this short-term reward may come at the cost of long-term emotional well-being.^{14, 15}

Young adults spending more time on Instagram reported poorer psychological well-being on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS).^{1, 16} Similarly, other researchers note that heavy social media users (e.g. >5 hours/day) often report increased depressive symptoms and lower overall well-being^17–19 Excessive Instagram use among youth has been associated with issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem and disrupted sleep, partly due to addictive usage patterns and constant connectivity.^{20, 21} On the other hand, a recent large-scale study found no significant differences in anxiety or depression between Instagram users and non-users in a general adult population. ²²

A robust body of literature links high social media use with adverse mental health outcomes among adolescents and young adults, ¹⁷ and has found positive correlations between time spent on social networking sites and symptoms of depression, anxiety, loneliness and reduced life satisfaction.^{3, 17, 23, 24} The psychological impact of food-related social media content is an emerging research area.^{25, 26} One line of inquiry examines how exposure to food images affects mood and cravings. As noted earlier, a controlled experiment demonstrated that even brief exposure (15 minutes) to an Instagram feed filled with ‘junk food’ pictures led to immediate increases in negative mood states (higher stress and sadness) among 18–24-year-olds.^{5, 25, 27}

There is a clear gap in focusing on content-specific social media use in the context of youth mental health. ²⁸ Particularly in India, where social media usage is burgeoning among adolescents and emerging adults, understanding how specialised content consumption relates to mental well-being is important. Such insights could inform more nuanced guidance for healthy social media and identify if certain online behaviours are potential risk factors for psychological distress.^{23, 29}

This study investigated the relationship between Instagram use—specifically for restaurant and food-related content—and psychological well-being among youth in Pune. The study utilises the DASS-21 to quantify participants’ mental health status. ²² The study aims to discern whether higher engagement with restaurant content is linked to elevated levels of depression, anxiety or stress.

Based on the above rationale, the study’s primary objective is to evaluate the association between Instagram usage and psychological well-being (depression, anxiety or stress) in 16–25-year-old users in Pune. The study hypothesises that: (a) Higher Instagram use frequency will be associated with higher DASS-21 depression, anxiety and stress scores. (b) Greater engagement with restaurant or food content will correlate with higher psychological distress, potentially due to social comparison.^{29, 30}

Method

The study was conducted among 300 young individuals aged between 16 and 25 years, residing in Pune, Maharashtra. The participant group primarily consisted of undergraduate students (70%), while the remaining respondents were either postgraduate students or working professionals. The aim was to capture a representative sample of digitally active youth within this urban setting.

To assess psychological well-being, the DASS-21 was administered. ²² In addition to the DASS-21, a structured questionnaire was developed to understand participants’ patterns of Instagram usage and their engagement with restaurant-related content on the platform. The Instagram usage questionnaire underwent content validation through a review by two independent researchers experienced in social media studies. A pilot test was conducted with 15 individuals to evaluate the clarity and relevance of the questions, after which minor wording adjustments were made for refinement.^{2, 4, 24}

Data collection was carried out between September and November 2024. Approximately 80% of the participants completed the survey online, while the remaining 20% responded using a pen-and-paper format—primarily those recruited during an on-campus data collection drive. To avoid potential priming effects, the DASS-21 was presented at the beginning of the questionnaire followed by the Instagram usage and content engagement items.^{13, 19} The collected data were analysed using SPSS (Version 26) for statistical computation.

Analysis

The present study aimed to evaluate the association between Instagram usage and psychological well-being—measured through depression, anxiety and stress—among 300 young individuals aged 16–25 years in Pune, Maharashtra. The analysis was conducted using responses from the DASS-21 scale and a structured Instagram usage questionnaire focused on both general platform activity and engagement with food or restaurant-related content.

Among the participants, 93% reported daily Instagram usage, with 65% indicating they checked the app multiple times each day. The average usage was 2.3 hours per day (SD = 1.6) and participants were categorised as light users (<1 hour/day, 22%), moderate users (1–3 hours/day, 46%) and heavy users (>3 hours/day, 32%). A significant portion of the sample (68%) followed at least one food or restaurant-centric account and approximately 40% followed three or more such accounts. On average, participants reported that 30%–40% of the posts they encountered daily were related to food or dining, with 15% noting that over half their feed was dominated by such content. Behavioural influence was also notable: 54% of respondents had visited a restaurant because they had seen it on Instagram and 27% did so frequently. The demographic characteristics and Instagram usage patterns of the sample are presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Participant Characteristics and Instagram Usage Patterns (N = 300).

Characteristic	Value/Distribution
Age (years)	20.4 ± 2.5 (range 16–25)
Gender	45% male (n = 135); 55% female (n = 165)
Daily Instagram use	2.3 ± 1.6 hours
Usage category: Light (<1 h/day)	22% (n = 66)
Usage category: Moderate (1–3 h/day)	46% (n = 138)
Usage category: Heavy (>3 h/day)	32% (n = 96)
Follows ≥1 food/restaurant account	68% (n = 204)
Visited a restaurant due to Instagram	54% (ever); 27% (frequently)
Experiences cravings from food posts	72% (at least sometimes)
Posts their own food/restaurant photos	32% (occasionally); 10% (frequently)
DASS-21: Depression (0–21)	6.8 ± 4.5
DASS-21: Anxiety (0–21)	7.5 ± 4.6
DASS-21: Stress (0–21)	8.9 ± 5.1

Emotional responses to such content were mixed. While some participants expressed feeling inspired, a considerable portion (44%) reported that viewing posts of others dining out made them feel left out or wish they could have the same experience. Additionally, 72% reported experiencing food cravings at least sometimes after viewing Instagram posts related to restaurants or cuisine. Approximately 32% posted about food occasionally and 10% did so frequently.

On average, DASS-21 scores for depression, anxiety and stress fell within the ‘normal to mild’ range, though individual scores extended into the moderate and severe levels. Pearson correlation analyses were used to examine associations between Instagram usage and psychological well-being. Results indicated significant positive correlations between hours of daily Instagram usage and DASS-21 subscales: Depression (r = 0.27, p < .001), anxiety (r = 0.24, p < .001) and stress (r = 0.29, p < .001). These results support the first hypothesis, showing that higher Instagram use frequency is associated with elevated psychological distress.

Engagement with restaurant-specific content also showed a statistically significant relationship with psychological well-being. The number of food/restaurant accounts followed was positively correlated with stress (r = 0.21, p < .001) and anxiety (r = 0.18, p = .002) while the correlation with depression was marginal (r = 0.12, p = .06). Moreover, participants who reported frequently visiting restaurants due to Instagram posts had higher stress scores (r = 0.25, p < .001). These findings support the second hypothesis, suggesting that greater engagement with restaurant/food-related content is associated with increased psychological distress.

To further explore group-level differences, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to compare DASS-21 scores across Instagram usage categories. The results, displayed in Table 2, revealed a stepwise increase in depression, anxiety and stress scores from light to heavy users.

Table 2. Mean DASS-21 Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scores Across Instagram Usage Categories.

Usage Group	Depression (Mean ± SD)	Anxiety (Mean ± SD)	Stress (Mean ± SD)
Light (<1 h/day)	4.2 ± 3.5	5.1 ± 4.0	6.0 ± 4.5
Moderate (1–3 hours/day)	6.5 ± 4.0	7.0 ± 3.8	10.0 ± 5.2
Heavy (>3 hours/day)	9.8 ± 4.8	10.2 ± 4.5	15.0 ± 6.0
ANOVA p value	.003 (sig.)	.019 (sig.)	<.001 (sig.)

Post-hoc comparisons indicated that heavy users had significantly higher depression scores than both light (p = .002) and moderate users (p = .04). Similar trends were observed for anxiety, where heavy users differed significantly from light users (p = .015). Stress differences were most prominent, with heavy users scoring significantly higher than both moderate (p < .001) and light users (p < .001) and moderate users scoring higher than light users (p = .01). These findings reinforce the conclusion that heavier Instagram usage is associated with increased psychological symptoms across all three DASS subscales. The regression model predicting DASS-21 stress scores is summarised in Table 3. Visual representation of this trend is presented in Figure 1, which shows the mean DASS-21 stress scores for each usage category. Heavy users scored nearly 15 on average—more than double the stress score of light users.

Table 3. Multiple Regression Analysis Predicting DASS-21 Stress Scores from Instagram Usage and Food Content Engagement.

Predictor	Beta (Standardised Coefficient)	p Value
Instagram use (hours/day)	0.22	<.01
Food content engagement (accounts followed)	0.16	<.05

Figure 1. Mean DASS-21 Stress Score by Instagram Usage Group.

Further analysis also explored the impact of content-specific engagement. Participants identified as high restaurant content engagers (n ≈ 80)—those who followed multiple food accounts and frequently visited restaurants based on Instagram content—had significantly higher stress scores (mean difference ≈ 3 points, p = .01) and anxiety scores (mean difference ≈2 points, p = .04) compared to those less engaged with such content. While depression scores were slightly higher in the high engagement group, the difference was not statistically significant (p = .10). These results further substantiate the hypothesis that engagement with restaurant-related content is linked to elevated levels of psychological distress, particularly stress and anxiety.

Multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the unique contributions of Instagram usage and food content engagement to psychological distress. In a model predicting DASS-21 stress scores, both daily usage hours (β = 0.22, p < .01) and food content engagement (number of restaurant accounts followed; β = 0.16, p < .05) emerged as independent predictors. This suggests that while general usage has a stronger influence, specific content engagement also plays a measurable role in elevated stress levels.

Last, when evaluating participants who frequently posted their own food or restaurant content (approximately 10% of the sample), no significant differences were found in DASS-21 scores compared to those who did not. In fact, frequent posters had slightly higher anxiety levels though this was not statistically significant. Therefore, active content creation did not appear to mitigate psychological distress in this study.

Conclusion

The findings of this study clearly support the hypothesised link between Instagram usage patterns and psychological well-being among young users in Pune, Maharashtra. The first hypothesis that higher Instagram use frequency is associated with increased symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress was strongly supported. Participants who reported heavy usage of Instagram exhibited significantly elevated DASS-21 scores across all three subscales compared to light and moderate users, with the most substantial differences observed in stress levels.^{31, 32}

The second hypothesis, proposing that greater engagement with food and restaurant-related content on Instagram correlates with higher psychological distress, also found empirical backing. Participants who followed multiple food-related accounts and frequently acted upon Instagram recommendations by visiting such establishments reported significantly higher levels of stress and anxiety. While depression scores also trended higher in this group, the difference was not statistically significant, suggesting that the impact may be more closely tied to anxiety-provoking and stress-inducing experiences. ³³

Importantly, regression analyses confirmed that both general Instagram usage and specific content engagement independently contribute to psychological distress, reinforcing the idea that not just the amount, but also the type of content consumed plays a role in shaping mental health outcomes.^{34, 35} Contrary to some assumptions, active posting of food content did not appear to buffer against these negative effects.

This study underscores the need for increased awareness around the mental health implications of social media use, particularly in how specific forms of engagement—such as with lifestyle and food-related content—can influence stress and anxiety. The results highlight a growing psychological concern among youth, suggesting that digital well-being strategies must address both usage patterns and the thematic nature of online content exposure.

Authors’ Contribution

Surbhi Nimbalkar and Dr Kashif Hasan contributed to the study conceptualization, literature review, statistical analysis and drafting of the manuscript. Dr Areena Z Mirza was responsible for the research design and data interpretation. Asha Adhikari contributed to data collection, data validation, and preparation of tables and figures. All authors reviewed, edited, and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Statement of Ethics

This study was performed in line with the principles of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki.

ICMJE Statement

The manuscript complies with ICMJE guidelines.

Informed Consent

Written informed consent was taken from professionals to participate in this study. Participants were briefed about their voluntary participation and confidentiality of their responses. No incentive was provided for their participation.