The Impact of Social Media Use on Sleep Disturbance and Mental Health Among University Students

Abstract

Social media is a virtual network that consists of websites and interactive applications enabling users to connect, communicate, create, and share content with just a few clicks. The availability and usage of social media platforms are increasing day by day, especially among university students. However, extensive research is needed to understand the impact and consequences of social media indulgence. The current study aims to understand the effects of social media usage on two very important aspects of students, i.e., sleep and mental health. Findings have suggested a significant correlation among the present variables, which makes it important to study in Pakistan’s cultural context. The present research is cross-sectional survey-based research employing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to measure the effect of social media usage on sleep disturbances and mental health of students. All the ethical considerations were followed along with the students’ participation consent. The data collected was then transferred to SPSS, and statistical analysis, i.e., Chi Square and Correlation, was applied. The results indicate a significant gender difference in social media usage patterns, i.e., women with a higher mean. Although a significant association was not observed in the present research among social media consumption, sleep, and mental health, it was noted that individuals who spent less time on social media reported better quality of sleep and mental health outcomes. Further longitudinal researches are recommended on social media usage to understand its long-term impact, especially on students. .