Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Advisor

Kara Erolin

Abstract

Social media has become a way to interact, educate, create community and be entertained in our everyday lives. The creation of mobile short-form video (MSV) applications has reshaped the ways users interact and engage online. Mobile short-form video platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Facebook Reels, offer highly engaging and addicting content used to educate, inform, and entertain users. While MSV content is often used to create awareness about mental health, concerns regarding accuracy of information, self-diagnosis, and impact of the MSV algorithm on users have become areas of growing interest. In this study, I used interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore three Gen Z and four Millennials’ lived experiences viewing anxiety and depression content on MSVs. Through data analysis, three major themes emerged; normalization, seeking guidance and altered reality. The findings indicated that individuals’ experiences viewing content related to anxiety and depression on MSVs were influenced by various factors. Participants shared both positive and negative experiences viewing mental health content on MSVs. Participants shared being emotionally impacted by MSVS as well as using MSVs as an educational source to learn more about their own mental health and mental health in general. Implications of the findings are discussed as well as directions for future research as the impact of MSVs continues to grow.

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