The Relationship between Social Media Use with Depression and Anxiety among Medical Students at Ubon Ratchathani University
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Medical students are always exposed to stress and pressure from studying so they are more at risk of developing mental health problems. Currently, medical students are increasingly using social media to reduce stress; however, excessive use can cause mental health problems.
OBJECTIVES: To study the relationship between social media use and depression and anxiety among medical students.
METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 333 first to sixth year medical students at Ubon Ratchathani University from 1 March to 31 May 2021. Data were collected by questionnaires which consisted of social media use patterns, a social media addiction test, and the Thai hospital anxiety and depression scale (Cronbach's alpha coefficient for depression sub-scale 0.83, anxiety sub-scale 0.86). Descriptive and multiple ordinal logistic regression were used to analyze the data, with a statistical significance at p<0.05.
RESULTS: Most of the respondents were females (62.0%), and most were first-year students (22.6%). 32.6% had ‘social media addiction; 23.9% had depression, and 45.4% had anxiety. After adjusting for covariates, there were statistically significant associations between the level of social media addiction and depression and anxiety. The addicted group had a 2.36 greater risk of developing depression (AOR=2.36; 95%CI=1.03-4.78). The preoccupied and addicted group had 2.13 (AOR=2.13; 95%CI=1.05-4.30) and 3.48 (AOR=3.48; 95%CI=1.64-7.39) greater risk of developing anxiety, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Social media use is associated with depression and anxiety among medical students. Awareness of depression and anxiety associated with social media use should be promoted in order to detect it early and prevent these issues from arising among medical students.
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