Role of Social Media Addiction and Emotional Regulation on Mental Health of Medical and Dental Students

Aqsa Khalil; Bisma Amjad; Attique Ur Rehman; Sonia Mubeen; Abeer Anjum; Ayesha Fahim

doi:10.33897/fujd.v4i2.405

Aqsa Khalil Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Government College Women University, Sialkot, Pakistan
Bisma Amjad Student, Department of Psychology, Government College Women University, Sialkot, Pakistan
Attique Ur Rehman Assistant Professor, Department of Operative Dentistry, Islam Dental College, Sialkot, Pakistan
Sonia Mubeen Senior Registrar, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shahida Islam Dental College, Lodhran, Pakistan
Abeer Anjum Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Education, Khawaja Muhammad Safdar Medical College, Sialkot, Pakistan
Ayesha Fahim Associate Professor, Department of Oral Biology, University College of Dentistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2764-882X

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33897/fujd.v4i2.405

Keywords: Adult, Emotions, Mental Health, Social Control, Social Media

Abstract

Objective: The use of social media has increased exponentially in the last 2 decades, especially among young adults. This study aimed to investigate the role of social media addiction and emotional regulation on mental health among medical and dental students in Pakistan.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional quantitative research was conducted from January to May 2023. A convenient sample of 503 students (345 females, 158 males) was taken from different private and government universities in Pakistan. A self-developed demographic sheet was administered along with the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), emotional regulation questionnaire, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS).

Results: There was a significant positive relationship between social media addiction with DASS subscales scores (r = 0.39, r = 0.38, r = 0.37, p<0.01) and a positive correlation with emotional regulation (r = 0.21, p<0.01). Cohen's d value for social media addiction was 0.33 (<0.50) which indicated moderate effect size, showing significant mean differences among gender (p<0.05). Cohen's d values for mental health problems were 0.60 (>0.50) and 0.80 (>0.50), showing significant mean differences among marital status and gender respectively (p<0.05), which represents a large effect size.

Conclusion: There is a significant role of social media addiction in the mental health of students. This research illustrates new insights for research by presenting empirical support for its incidence among medical and dental students in Pakistan.