Exploring the facilitators and barriers to addressing social media’s impact on anxiety within primary care: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background Several researchers and policymakers have acknowledged the alarming association between social media (SM) usage and anxiety symptoms in young adults. While primary care holds a crucial role in the improvement of health outcomes for those presenting with anxiety, there has been no research on GPs’ perceptions of the impact of SM on anxiety. Furthermore, there has been little discussion of SM as a risk factor in anxiety-related consultations. This study is the first to use empirical research to inform how primary care can adapt to address SM’s impact on anxiety within young adults. Aim To identify the facilitators and barriers within primary care to addressing SM’s impact on anxiety among young adults. Design & setting A qualitative study of GPs in the UK. Method Following an exploratory pilot interview, semi-structured interviews with GPs ( n = 7) were transcribed and thematically analysed, following an inductive approach. Results The following six facilitators were identified: a framework to facilitate discussion; open GP attitudes; GP training; referral pathways; larger stakeholder influence; and young adult education of social media’s impact on anxiety. The following three barriers were identified: a lack of GP awareness of SM’s impact on anxiety; cautious GP attitudes; and increased pressure on the health service. Conclusion This qualitative study revealed a diversity of perceptions, and these novel findings are instructive in the adaptation of primary care services to meet the current mental health needs of young adults, as well as better assisting GPs in engaging in these conversations, especially within university practice.