The widespread adoption of social media among Nigerian university students has created new avenues for accessing mental health\r\ninformation, yet concerns about credibility and effectiveness persist. This study examined how undergraduate students at the University\r\nof Delta, Agbor, engage with social media to obtain mental-health information. The study was anchored on the Uses and Gratifications\r\nTheory (UGT) and the Health Belief Model (HBM), which explain students' motivations for seeking mental-health information through\r\nsocial media and the cognitive processes that influence their acceptance and application of such information. A survey design was\r\nemployed, with 384 students participating. The questionnaire was validated through expert review in Mass Communication, while its\r\ninternal consistency was established using Cronbach's Alpha reliability test. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means and\r\nstandard deviations) and inferential statistics were employed to analyse the data at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings indicate that\r\n94.3% of respondents own a smartphone or digital device, and 64.8% access social media at least once daily, demonstrating the centrality\r\nof digital platforms in students’ daily lives. Regarding engagement with mental-health content, 30.2% of students agreed and 10.2%\r\nstrongly agreed that social media discussions enhance their understanding of mental-health issues, while 33.5% reported following\r\nmental-health-related pages or groups. Despite frequent exposure, only 30.7% of students perceived online mental-health information as\r\ncredible, and 38.0% actively verified content before acting on it, suggesting a cautious approach to digital health information. The study\r\nunderscores the dual role of social media as both a supportive tool and a potential source of misinformation. The study contributes to the\r\ngrowing literature on digital health communication in Africa and offers practical insights for policymakers, university administrators, and\r\nmental-health professionals aiming to enhance student well-being in a digital era.

Social media mental health university students online information digital literacy

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• Journal: DELSU Journal of Communication and Media Studies
• ISSN: XXXX-XXXX
• Publisher: Delta State University Abraka
• Country: Nigeria
• Language: English
• Access: Open Access

Delsu Journal of Communication and Media Studies

Volume 1, Issue 1

2026

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