Health impacts of excessive use of Facebook among university students in Bangladesh

Parental Mediation, Digital Media Usage, and Health Literacy: An Exploration Among Chinese Elementary School Students

This study examines the relationship between parental interactions, digital media usage, and health literacy among 19,386 elementary students (ages 6-11) in Guangdong Province, China, using the framework of parental mediation theory. Path analysis revealed that increased digital media usage is associated with decreased health literacy, particularly for short video platforms, which exhibit a significant negative correlation (β = -.335). Parental interaction was found to significantly reduce the use of instant messaging apps (β = -.007) and short video platforms (β = -.008), with the influence being moderated by the student's residence status (boarding or non-boarding). The findings highlight the importance of frequent parental interaction in limiting digital media usage and enhancing health literacy among children. This study suggests that parental mediation theory should pay closer attention to environmental or living status factors, as they can significantly influence its mechanisms of action. Overall, this research contributes to the discourse on digital behavior in childhood and offers evidence-based insights for improving educational and health literacy strategies.

The link between Facebook addiction and depression among university students: Evidence from a lower-middle income country

Background and Aims

Among all the social media, Facebook is the most popular social networking site among students. That raises a chance of excessive Facebook usage being a form of addiction to hamper students' mental health. The primary goal of this study was to find the association of Facebook addiction with the depression level of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

Four hundred ten university students from Bangladesh were selected randomly as samples for this investigation. In this study, the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale and nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire were used to assess the level of Facebook Addiction and depression status of the students, respectively. Ordered probit models were employed to identify the connection between Facebook addiction and depression. Ordinary least square models were utilized further to check the robustness of the findings.

Results

Ordered probit results confirm that Facebook addiction increases the likelihood of having heightened depression among university students. Besides, sex, household income, and history of being infected by COVID-19 also appeared to be correlated with the depression level of the students.

Conclusion

Creating opportunities for students to participate in more physically demanding outdoor activities should be prioritized as it could ultimately enhance their capacity to mitigate depression. Appropriate measures must be taken to increase the number of recreational facilities on the campus for students, considering their age, gender, and preferences.

Association between flaunting behaviors on social media and among the general population in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

Background and Aims

The number of social media users is growing with each passing day at full tilt, keeping pace with digitalization and technological advances. Despite several advantages, there are also certain negative aspects to using social networking sites (SNS) for communication, amusement, self-expression, impression management, and other purposes. This study sought to investigate the association between mental health status and flaunting behaviors in social media among the general population in Bangladesh.

Methods

We conducted this nationwide cross-sectional online survey among 465 people aged between 18 and 60 between October 15, 2021 and January 15, 2022. Following electronic consent, we collected the socio-demographic profiles and psychometric parameters of the respondents. Additionally, we assessed the diverse perspectives on SNS usage and its relationship to the self-reported symptoms of depression and loneliness.

Results

The estimated prevalence of loneliness and depressive symptoms were 65.16% (mild: 39.57%, moderate: 16.56%, severe: 9.03%) and 55.49% (mild: 26.67%, moderate: 22.15%, severe: 6.67%), respectively. Key factors associated with flaunting on social media were mental health issues such as depression and loneliness. Several social factors were also considered, such as being young, of the male sex, unmarried, illiterate, a student, urban dwelling, average economic status, nuclear family structure, types of SNSs, checking social media first in the morning, and the use of SNS for gaining popularity.

Conclusion

A significant portion of SNS users reported symptoms of mental illness. Current study findings urge for longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes to have a nearly equal distribution of users from each social media platform for in-depth exploration of how user attitudes about SNSs and site usage patterns impact the general public's mental health. We suggest that regulating SNS usage patterns and treatment approaches would improve the situation.

Negative psychological and physiological effects of social networking site use: The example of Facebook

Social networking sites (SNS), with Facebook as a prominent example, have become an integral part of our daily lives and more than four billion people worldwide use SNS. However, the (over-)use of SNS also poses both psychological and physiological risks. In the present article, we review the scientific literature on the risk of Facebook (over-)use. Addressing this topic is critical because evidence indicates the development of problematic Facebook use ("Facebook addiction") due to excessive and uncontrolled use behavior with various psychological and physiological effects. We conducted a review to examine the scope, range, and nature of prior empirical research on the negative psychological and physiological effects of Facebook use. Our literature search process revealed a total of 232 papers showing that Facebook use is associated with eight major psychological effects (perceived anxiety, perceived depression, perceived loneliness, perceived eating disorders, perceived self-esteem, perceived life satisfaction, perceived insomnia, and perceived stress) and three physiological effects (physiological stress, human brain alteration, and affective experience state). The review also describes how Facebook use is associated with these effects and provides additional details on the reviewed literature, including research design, sample, age, and measures. Please note that the term "Facebook use" represents an umbrella term in the present work, and in the respective sections it will be made clear what kind of Facebook use is associated with a myriad of investigated psychological variables. Overall, findings indicate that certain kinds of Facebook use may come along with significant risks, both psychologically and physiologically. Based on our review, we also identify potential avenues for future research.

Facebook addiction and affected academic performance among Ethiopian university students: A cross-sectional study

Addiction is an extreme craving for and commitment to something, physically or psychologically. Currently, addiction to social media is the main emerging technology addiction, especially among the young generation. The main aim of the current study was to evaluate the status of Facebook addiction and its relation to academic performance and other correlates among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 students from December 1-30, 2021, and Facebook addiction was examined with the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS). The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Study Habit Questionnaire (SHQ) were employed to assess self-esteem, anxiety and depression symptoms, and study habits, respectively. Systematic random sampling was used to recruit the subjects, and the data were analyzed by SPSS version 23.0. Statistics such as percentages, frequencies, mean ± SD, and mean differences were calculated. Multiple regression analysis was performed, and all the required assumptions were checked. The statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05 and a 95% CI. Results revealed that, the mean age of the students was 23.62 (SD = ±1.79) and 51.6% of the participants were male. The majority of the participants were addicted to Facebook, and Facebook addiction was positively linked with factors like lower academic achievements and the symptoms of anxiety and depression. In conclusion, Facebook addiction was found to be higher among study participants, and it is negatively affecting their academic performances. Similarly, it was associated with affected mental well-being and reduced self-esteem. It is better for the legislative body of the university to put firm policies in place for promoting safe use and reducing the detrimental effects of this problem among students.

Facebook addiction and its related factors among medical students; a cross- sectional study in Bangladesh

There is mounting evidence that Facebook Addiction is associated with poor mental health, physical symptoms, social dysfunction, and despair among the adolescent and youth population. The current study set out to identify the prevalence of Facebook Addiction among Bangladeshi medical students as well as its influencing factors. This cross-sectional survey was conducted on 720 randomly selected medical students from eight public medical colleges from January to June 2022. Data were obtained using a semi- structured, self-reported questionnaire and analyzed using the SPSS v.23 programs. The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale BFAS was used to assess Facebook Addiction, while the Generalized Anxiety Disorder GAD-7, Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ-9, Perceived Stress Scale PSS10, Chen Internet Addiction Scale CIAS, and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index PSQI was used to assess anxiety, depression, perceived stress, internet addiction, and sleep quality. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the influence of several demographic, psychological, and behavioral characteristics on the likelihood of respondents being addicted to Facebook. Facebook Addiction was observed in 29.4% of medical students. According to data, 63.7% of medical students reported mild to severe anxiety, 29.3% moderate to severe depression, and 84.9% moderate to high perceived stress. Lack of personal income [OR with (95% CI), 1.82 (1.13, 2.96)], poor academic performance [2.46 (1.45, 4.15)], moderate anxiety [2.45 (1.22, 4.92)], moderate perceived stress [5.87 (1.92, 17.95)], and moderately severe depression [2.62 (.97, 7.08)] were all found to play a significant role in the development of Facebook Addiction. However, living with parents [OR with (95% CI), .37 (.14, .95)] and positive family relationships [.40 (.18, .87)] reduces the likelihood of becoming addicted to Facebook. An integrated participative Behavioral and psychological intervention should be devised to reduce the risks of Facebook addiction in medical students while also improving their mental health-related quality of life.

Role of self-compassion and online/offline integration on internet addiction, aggression, and psychological well-being: A mediation analysis

CONTEXT

Internet addiction is known to harmfully affect psychological health. However, few researches have examined its plausible related factors and respite from its effects.

AIM

This study aims to examine the relationship between internet addiction, aggression, psychological well-being, and the mediating effects of self-compassion and online/offline integration, on them.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from 459 university students aged between 18 and 21 years were purposively selected from various disciplines and locations in India. Data were collected using an online demographic survey and standardized psychological measures.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Data analysis was performed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) path analysis. Direct and indirect effects and path coefficients were observed using PLS structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

The study indicated a possible influence of internet addiction on psychological well-being and aggression. It seems to increase aggression levels and lower psychological wellbeing. Online/offline integration and self-compassion partially mediated and dampened its adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Online/offline integration and self-compassion have a possibility to therapeutically diminish the ill-effects of internet addiction, lower aggression levels and promote psychological health of students who use internet extensively. This study provides a basis for further research to establish causal inferences.