LifeStance Survey Finds Nearly One-Third of Americans Use Social Media Content to Self-Diagnose Mental Health Conditions
LifeStance Health released a survey revealing concerning trends in social media's impact on mental health self-diagnosis. The study found that 29% of Americans self-diagnose mental health conditions based on social media content, with only 47% of these individuals consistently seeking professional guidance.
The survey highlighted that 54% of respondents encounter mental health misinformation weekly on social media, while 23% seek mental health advice on these platforms. Among generations, Gen Z (50%) and millennials (38%) lead in self-diagnosis rates.
Key findings show 26% of respondents check social media within five minutes of waking up, and 76% find the idea of a digital detox appealing. The study also revealed that 40% of respondents frequently encounter clinical terms like "trauma" and "narcissist" on social media, with 32% reporting that such content has led them to question their relationships.
LifeStance Health ha pubblicato un sondaggio che rivela tendenze preoccupanti sull'impatto dei social media sull'autodiagnosi della salute mentale. Lo studio ha rilevato che il 29% degli americani si autodiagnostica condizioni di salute mentale basandosi sui contenuti dei social media, ma solo il 47% di questi cerca costantemente un supporto professionale.
Il sondaggio ha evidenziato che il 54% degli intervistati incontra disinformazione sulla salute mentale ogni settimana sui social media, mentre il 23% cerca consigli in materia su queste piattaforme. Tra le generazioni, la Generazione Z (50%) e i millennials (38%) sono i più propensi all'autodiagnosi.
I dati chiave mostrano che il 26% degli intervistati controlla i social media entro cinque minuti dal risveglio, e il 76% trova attraente l’idea di una disintossicazione digitale. Lo studio ha inoltre rivelato che il 40% degli intervistati si imbatte frequentemente in termini clinici come “trauma” e “narcisista” sui social media, e il 32% riferisce che tali contenuti li hanno portati a mettere in discussione le proprie relazioni.
LifeStance Health publicó una encuesta que revela tendencias preocupantes sobre el impacto de las redes sociales en la autodiagnóstico de la salud mental. El estudio encontró que el 29% de los estadounidenses se autodiagnostican condiciones de salud mental basándose en contenido de redes sociales, pero solo el 47% de ellos busca orientación profesional de manera constante.
La encuesta destacó que el 54% de los encuestados encuentra desinformación sobre salud mental semanalmente en redes sociales, mientras que el 23% busca consejos sobre salud mental en estas plataformas. Entre generaciones, la Generación Z (50%) y los millennials (38%) lideran en tasas de autodiagnóstico.
Los hallazgos clave muestran que el 26% de los encuestados revisa las redes sociales dentro de los cinco minutos posteriores a despertarse, y el 76% encuentra atractiva la idea de una desintoxicación digital. El estudio también reveló que el 40% de los encuestados frecuentemente se encuentra con términos clínicos como “trauma” y “narcisista” en redes sociales, y el 32% reporta que dicho contenido los ha llevado a cuestionar sus relaciones.
LifeStance Health가 소셜 미디어가 정신 건강 자가 진단에 미치는 영향에 관한 우려스러운 경향을 밝혀낸 설문조사를 발표했습니다. 연구에 따르면 미국인의 29%가 소셜 미디어 콘텐츠를 기반으로 정신 건강 상태를 자가 진단하며, 이 중 단지 47%만이 꾸준히 전문가의 도움을 구하는 것으로 나타났습니다.
설문조사에서는 응답자의 54%가 매주 소셜 미디어에서 정신 건강 관련 잘못된 정보를 접하며, 23%는 이러한 플랫폼에서 정신 건강 조언을 구한다고 밝혔습니다. 세대별로는 Z세대(50%)와 밀레니얼 세대(38%)가 자가 진단 비율이 가장 높았습니다.
주요 결과로는 응답자의 26%가 기상 후 5분 이내에 소셜 미디어를 확인하며, 76%는 디지털 디톡스에 관심을 보였습니다. 또한, 40%는 소셜 미디어에서 '트라우마'와 '나르시시스트' 같은 임상 용어를 자주 접하며, 32%는 이러한 콘텐츠가 자신의 인간관계에 의문을 갖게 했다고 보고했습니다.
LifeStance Health a publié une enquête révélant des tendances préoccupantes concernant l’impact des réseaux sociaux sur l’autodiagnostic en santé mentale. L’étude a révélé que 29% des Américains s’autodiagnostiquent des troubles mentaux à partir de contenus sur les réseaux sociaux, mais seulement 47% d’entre eux consultent régulièrement un professionnel.
L’enquête a souligné que 54% des répondants rencontrent chaque semaine des informations erronées sur la santé mentale sur les réseaux sociaux, tandis que 23% cherchent des conseils en santé mentale sur ces plateformes. Parmi les générations, la Génération Z (50%) et les milléniaux (38%) sont les plus nombreux à s’autodiagnostiquer.
Les résultats clés montrent que 26% des répondants consultent les réseaux sociaux dans les cinq minutes suivant leur réveil, et que 76% trouvent l’idée d’une détox digitale attrayante. L’étude a également révélé que 40% des répondants rencontrent fréquemment des termes cliniques tels que « trauma » et « narcissique » sur les réseaux sociaux, et que 32% déclarent que ce type de contenu les a amenés à remettre en question leurs relations.
LifeStance Health veröffentlichte eine Umfrage, die besorgniserregende Trends hinsichtlich der Auswirkungen sozialer Medien auf die Selbstdiagnose psychischer Gesundheit aufzeigt. Die Studie ergab, dass 29% der Amerikaner psychische Gesundheitszustände anhand von Inhalten in sozialen Medien selbst diagnostizieren, wobei nur 47% dieser Personen konsequent professionelle Hilfe suchen.
Die Umfrage zeigte, dass 54% der Befragten wöchentlich Fehlinformationen zur psychischen Gesundheit in sozialen Medien begegnen, während 23% auf diesen Plattformen Rat zur psychischen Gesundheit suchen. Unter den Generationen führen Gen Z (50%) und Millennials (38%) die Selbstdiagnoseraten an.
Wichtige Ergebnisse zeigen, dass 26% der Befragten innerhalb von fünf Minuten nach dem Aufwachen soziale Medien checken und 76% die Idee einer digitalen Auszeit ansprechend finden. Die Studie ergab außerdem, dass 40% der Befragten häufig auf klinische Begriffe wie „Trauma“ und „Narzissten“ in sozialen Medien stoßen, wobei 32% angaben, dass solche Inhalte sie dazu gebracht haben, ihre Beziehungen zu hinterfragen.
- None.
- None.
Less Than Half of Respondents Consistently Seek Professional Guidance for Self-Diagnosed Conditions, Reinforcing the Need for Increased Access to Evidence-Based Mental Health Care
The LifeStance survey, "Navigating Mental Health in the Age of Social Media," found that nearly one-quarter (
Importantly,
"Social media is a double-edged sword. While it has helped to normalize discussions about mental health, its potential for spreading misinformation poses a threat to individual well-being through the risk of harmful self-diagnosis and delayed professional intervention," said Dr. Ujjwal Ramtekkar, Chief Medical Officer, LifeStance Health. "Our survey emphasizes the importance of recognizing the limitations of online content and seeking online information from qualified sources and evidence-based mental health care from licensed clinicians. We must continue working toward ensuring everyone who needs it has access to affordable, high-quality mental health care."
Key findings from LifeStance's survey, "Navigating Mental Health in the Age of Social Media," include:
Being "chronically online" is pervasive, especially among younger generations.
- Over one-quarter (
26% ) of respondents check social media within five minutes of waking up, and the same portion (26% ) spend four hours or more daily on social media. - Nearly one-third (
29% ) of respondents report being "constantly connected" to the internet or social media — Gen Z (45% ) and millennial respondents (39% ) are most likely to be constantly connected, compared to respondents from the Gen X (25% ) and baby boomer (14% ) generations. - Over half (
57% ) of respondents identify with the term "chronically online," meaning they believe the term accurately describes their relationship with social media. - More than one-in-five (
21% ) respondents report experiencing negative impacts on their mental health as a result of this constant online connectivity.
Although many are aware of the prevalence of mental health misinformation on social media, people still turn to these platforms for advice.
- More than half (
54% ) of respondents report seeing misinformation about mental health on social media at least weekly. - Nearly one-quarter (
23% ) of respondents have sought mental health advice on social media. This jumps to55% for Gen Z and30% for millennial respondents. - Nearly half (
45% ) of respondents have turned to social media for mental health advice for its convenience and immediacy. - Sources matter:
82% trust online information from credentialed health care providers the most, compared to64% for mental health influencers and53% for information shared by other social media users.
Self-diagnosis from social media is common. However, many respondents who self-diagnose do not consistently seek professional guidance from a clinician.
- Nearly one-third (
29% ) of respondents have self-diagnosed mental health conditions based on online information. Gen Z (50% ) and millennial (38% ) respondents lead in self-diagnosis. - Less than half (
47% ) of respondents who self-diagnose often or always discuss their symptoms with a clinician, and almost a quarter (24% ) rarely or never do. - More than one-quarter (
27% ) of respondents reported experiencing unnecessary stress or anxiety from attempted self-diagnosis.
As the casual use of clinical mental health terminology, or "therapy speak," becomes more common in everyday conversations, people are analyzing their relationships through the lens of the language they've seen online.
- Forty percent of respondents report seeing terms like "trauma," "narcissist" and "toxic" on social media daily or multiple times a week.
- Nearly one-in-three (
32% ) respondents say social media content has made them question their relationships — leading people to believe that a partner or loved one is "toxic" (52% ), "gaslighting" them (45% ) or "love bombing" them (28% ). - Thirty percent of female respondents report using "therapy speak" regularly in online and in-person conversations, compared to
25% of male respondents. Gen Z (50% ) respondents reported the highest usage amongst all generations.
Amid increasing anxiety and stress fueled by social media, most respondents wish to disconnect, with a significant number expressing interest in a digital detox.
- Forty-four percent of respondents believe social media has done more to increase negative perceptions and stereotypes about mental health than to reduce them.
- Examining the negative impacts felt by social media,
37% reported feeling anxiety about politics,27% feel overloaded by the news cycle and22% said social media supports poor sleep habits. - More than three-quarters (
76% ) of respondents find the idea of a digital detox appealing, with Gen Z (84% ) and millennial (83% ) respondents most interested compared to respondents from other generations. - Over one-quarter (
26% ) of respondents believe a permanent TikTok ban would positively impact their mental health.
To explore the survey results, visit LifeStance's website. For tips on how to cope with mental health struggles associated with social media, visit LifeStance's podcast.
Methodology
On behalf of LifeStance Health, Researchscape International conducted an online survey of 1,110
ABOUT LIFESTANCE HEALTH
Founded in 2017, LifeStance (NASDAQ: LFST) is reimagining mental health. We are one of the nation's largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental healthcare for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance and its supported practices employ approximately 7,400 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operate across 33 states and more than 550 centers. To learn more, please visit www.LifeStance.com.
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SOURCE LifeStance Health
FAQ
What percentage of Americans self-diagnose mental health conditions from social media according to LifeStance's 2025 survey?
How often do LFST survey respondents encounter mental health misinformation on social media?
What percentage of Gen Z and Millennials self-diagnose mental health conditions through social media?
How many Americans who self-diagnose actually seek professional mental health guidance?
What percentage of LifeStance survey respondents are interested in a digital detox?
