INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA COMEDY SKITS IN RELIEVING MENTAL STRESS AMONGST STUDENTS IN IMT ENUGU

This study investigated the “influence of social media comedy skits in relieving mental stress amongst students in IMT Enugu”. The objectives of the study was to: determine if comedy skits are sought for leisure and escapism by students of IMT Enugu, find out students’ level of awareness on the ability of these comedy skits to reduce mental stress and discover whether social media comedy skits have contributed in reducing mental stress among students in IMT Enugu. The researcher employed descriptive survey research design to carry out the study. The population of the study was 15,000 students of IMT Enugu. A sample size of 390 was determined with Taro Yamane statistical formular. Data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire administered by the researcher to respondents whereas 380 copies were retrieved and used for analysis. The data were analyzed using simple tables and percentages. Chi-square (x2) statistical tool was used to test hypotheses for reliability. The findings showed that research findings revealed that students in IMT Enugu seek comedy skit for leisure and escapism, that there is high level of awareness of IMT students on the ability of these comedy skits to reduce mental stress and that social media comedy skits have really contributed in reducing mental stress among students in IMT Enugu. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that There is need for government to give guiding principles on the use of skit making especially comedy skits maker so as to avoid its misuse and abuse of privilege given to them, there is need also need for hate speech law to be implemented so as to mitigate the rate character assassination being carried out on comedy skit makers and that there is need for students to time their stay in comedy skits so as to avoid being carried away.