USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA COMEDY SKITS FOR STRESS AND DEPRESSION TREATMENT AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN ENUGU METROPOLIS

This study examined the “Use of Social Media Comedy Skits for Stress and Depression Treatment Among Undergraduates in Enugu Metropolis”. The objectives of the study were to: determine if social media comedy skits are sought for leisure and escapism by undergraduates, find out undergraduates level of awareness on the ability of this comedy skits to reduce stress and depression, ascertain why students use comedy skits as a coping mechanism to treat stress and depression and to find out if social media comedy skits have contributed in reducing stress among undergraduates in Enugu metropolis. The study employed survey research design. The population of the study was 260,000 students selected from nine (9) universities located in Enugu Metropolis. A sample size of 399 was determined with Taro Yamane statistical formular. Data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire administered by the researcher to respondents. The data were analyzed using simple tables and percentages. Chi-square (x2) statistical tool was used to test the hypotheses. Findings from the study revealed as follows: That undergraduates in Enugu Metropolis seek comedy skit for leisure and escapism, that there is high level of awareness of undergraduates on the ability of social media comedy skits to reduce stress and depression; that students resort to the use social media comedy skits as a coping mechanism to treat stress and depression and that social media comedy skits have really contributed in reducing stress & depression among undergraduates in Enugu Metropolis. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that among others that, there is the need for media literacy and advocacy campaign on the essentiality of the Social media comedy skits and its application in reducing stress & depression among undergraduates in Enugu Metropolis.