Project 1 Reflection

 When I first started this project, my research question was,“To what extent do social

comparison behaviors on social media contribute to negative mental health in young adults?” As

I continued, I realized the question was too wordy and complex, so I simplified it to “How does

comparison through social media affect young adults’ mental health?” This version helped me

stay focused and write more clearly. What surprised me the most was how consistent the findings

were across different studies. I expected mixed results, but almost every source showed a clear

connection between social media comparison and mental health struggles like depression,

anxiety, and low self-esteem. It also surprised me how strongly things like rumination and

addictive scrolling patterns could influence mental health. These weren’t things I thought about

much before, but now they seem very important. As I researched, my understanding of the topic

really deepened. At first, I thought the problem was mostly about time spent on social media. But

over time, I learned it’s more about how people use it, especially when they compare themselves

to idealized images of others. One turning point for me was reading the U.S. Surgeon General’s

advisory, which emphasized that social media's design can drive comparison and harm. That

made me realize this issue is systemic. The most challenging part was managing all the sources

and making sure everything was cited correctly in APA style. I overcame that by organizing my

notes and checking examples as I worked. I also struggled at first with balancing an objective

tone since this was an investigative essay, not an opinion piece, but I got better at letting the

research speak for itself. Through this project, I strengthened my research and writing skills a lot.

I also learned how to break a big assignment into smaller pieces and manage my time better. I

feel more confident now in using academic sources and explaining them clearly. If I could start

over, I would start researching earlier so I had more time to review and revise. What I learned

will definitely help me in my future studies in psychology. Understanding the relationship

between technology and mental health feels more relevant than ever, and this project gave me astart to explore that further. A moment when I felt proud was when I finished the final essay and

saw how everything came together. It felt meaningful because I knew I’d created something that

can inform or help someone. If someone else were starting a similar project, I’d tell them to pick

a topic they really care about, keep their research question focused, and manage their time

wisely. It makes everything else much easier. Also make sure to look over your work and revise!