Social media sites addiction and behaviour problems associated with it in young adults: A study from North India

Dr. Parth Singh Meena; Dr Anubhuti Sharma; Dr Ruchi Soni

Volume : VII, Issue : X, October - 2018

Social media sites addiction and behaviour problems associated with it in young adults: A study from North India

Dr. Parth Singh Meena, Dr Anubhuti Sharma, Dr Ruchi Soni

Abstract :

BACKGROUD

Our world and life is changing drastically day by day due to development of science and technology, one of its miracle is social media. The easy availability of social media sites is raising the need for focusing on its overuse in young adults and its consequences as mental health problems.

AIM

The aim of the study was to explore the prevalence of social media sites addiction and behaviour problems associated with it in young adults.

METHODS

A cross–sectional study was done on 200 medical students at Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College–Ajmer after taking approval and permission from Institutional Ethics Committee and the concerned authorities. Assessment was done using a semi–structured proforma and Young’s internet addiction test modified for social networking sites (YIAS) which was administered by the students themselves after explaining instructions, to find out social media dependency. Depression Anxiety Stress scale–21(DASS–21) was applied to study associated behaviour problems in students, simultaneously general health questioner (GHQ–12) was used to assess their current status.

RESULTS

Out of 197 participants who attempted the whole questionnaires 42.13% (n=83) were affected mildly, (n=108) 54.82% moderately and (n=6) 3.05% were severely addicted to Social media sites as estimated by YIAS. Students who were using Social media site excessively had high scores on DASS–21 in terms of depression, anxiety and stress scores.

CONCLUSION

In present era vogue use of social media is making youths to spend large time on Social media sites hence leading to addicton liability. The study tells that youths are not only addicted to social media sites but are also suffering from behaviour problems because of excessive use of social media.