The relationship between social networking addiction and academic performance in Iranian students of medical sciences: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Social networks have had a major influence on students' performance in recent years. These networks create many opportunities and threats for students in various fields. Addiction to social networking and its impact on students' academic performance caused the researcher to design and conduct this study. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between social networking addiction and academic performance of students in Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 360 students were enrolled by stratified random sampling. The study tools included personal information form and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Also, the students' overall grade obtained in previous educational term was considered as the indicator of academic performance. Data were analyzed using SPSS-18.0 and descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: The mean social networking addiction was higher in male students (52.65 ± 11.50) than in female students (49.35 ± 13.96) and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). There was a negative and significant relationship between students' addiction to social networking and their academic performance (r = − 0. 210, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The social networking addiction of the students was at moderate level and the male students had a higher level of addiction compared to the female students. There was a negative and significant relationship between the overall use of social networks and academic performance of students. Therefore, it is imperative that the university authorities take interventional steps to help students who are dependent on these networks and, through workshops, inform them about the negative consequences of addiction to social networks.

The utilization of social networking sites, their perceived benefits and their potential for improving the study habits of nursing students in five countries

“…A relevant finding explained how social media are an important aspect of today's adolescents, offering efficiency if properly utilized [23]. A similar study on social networking identified that SNS addiction was higher in male than in female students [24].…”

Does the Association of Social Media Use with Problematic Internet Behaviours Predict Undergraduate Students Academic Procrastination?

“…Furthermore, our findings showed that the number of social media used is not a significant predictor of students' academic procrastination. Researchers are of the opinion that it is when social media is poorly managed that it can lead to academic problems (Azizi, Soroush, & Khatony, 2019). This may imply that other beneficial use of social media in academics could be intervening variables.…”

Characteristics of social media ‘detoxification’ in university students

“…For extreme social media use to qualify as a ‘use disorder’ requires observation of the set of signs and symptoms consistent with all addictive behaviours. Tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, salience, and relapse have been explored in individuals using validated questionnaires such as Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) [ 17 ] and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) [ 12 ]. Of all the symptoms normally associated with dependence, withdrawal following the interruption of social media use was the most prominent [ 9 , 18 ].…”