A Quantitative Research on the Level of Social Media Addiction and its Effects on Psychological Health among Undergraduate Students of Pakistan

Abstract

Using social networks in access and getting addicted to these applications has negatively influenced the mental health of the users. The objective of the study was to inspect the effects of social media applications including WhatsApp, Face Book, Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram on the intensity of psychological problems including aggression, depression, and suicidal ideation among undergraduate students (N=490) both males and females with the age range from 18 years to 25 who were addicted (N=297) and non-addicted (N=193) to these social media applications. It was hypothesized that the scores of addicted students will be high on aggression, depression, and suicidal ideation. Purposive sampling technique was used and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Aggression Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory II, and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation were administered on the students. T-test was used on SPSS version 20 to examine the statistics. Results of the study suggested that undergraduates with social media addiction have more aggression, depression, and suicidal ideation as compared to non-addicted undergraduates. The results of the project led to some practical implications. There should be some counselors and motivational lecturers in all the educational institutions to educate the students to use the social media applications in a beneficial way. Secondly, all the educational institutions must have mental health centers to deal with the effected students. Lastly, some subjects or programs should be included in the curriculum which can guide the students to use social media in a fruitful way.