Effects of Social Media Consumption on Loneliness and Depression During the Pandemic: A Quantitative Online Survey With the Asian Community of New Zealand

Objective: This article investigates whether and how social media consumption of COVID‐19 related information influenced the levels of loneliness and depression during the pandemic in the Asian community of New Zealand. Methods: An online survey ( N = 402) explored the impact of COVID‐19 on New Zealand's Asian community during the first year of the pandemic. Employing the 2018 New Zealand Census's Asian adult population distribution by age, gender, and location, stratified sampling technique was used to ensure that all Asian New Zealanders in the country were statistically represented. Results: Social media consumption of COVID‐19 information has no significant effects on loneliness or depression. Higher age is associated with lower levels of loneliness and lower levels of depression. Higher trust/confidence in media information is associated with higher levels of depression, but higher trust/confidence in medical workers and organizations (i.e. doctors and hospitals) is associated with lower levels of depression. Conclusions: Social media consumption of COVID‐19 related information did not influence loneliness and depression among Asian community during the pandemic. Implications for Public Health: This article presents data for public health strategy development to combat and reduce loneliness and depression.