Social media usage

Introduction: There is growing concern over the impact that social media use by university students could have on their academic performance due to its effect on sleep. The study assessed the influence of social media use, sleep quality and academic performance of students of the School of Basic Medical Sciences of the University of Benin. Methods: A descriptive survey research design was utilized in the study. Stratified random sampling technique was adopted for selecting 344 undergraduates. The data collection instrument included a structured questionnaire, which contained SMUS, PSQI and academic performance measure (CGPA). Descriptive analysis of participants' profile was undertaken using simple statistics and Pearson correlation was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. Results: Amongst all the respondents, 60.5% were female. The average SMUS was 10.09 ± 1.72, implying high levels of social media engagement, while the mean PSQI score was 7.73 ± 4.14, depicting fair to poor sleep quality. With respect to academic performance, 55.8% of the respondents scored between 3.50 and 4.49 CGPA. A strong negative correlation between social media usage and academic performance (r = -0.244, p < 0.001) was found. There was, however, no significant association between social media usage and sleep quality (p = 0.813) nor between sleep quality and academic performance (p = 0.391). Conclusion: This study reveals that social media usage adversely impacts academic performance, and sleep quality does not act as a mediator in this relationship. The students are advised to adopt healthy social media practices and concentrate on academics. The institution should consider raising awareness about this issue through appropriate digital literacy programs. iv Keywords: Social media usage, sleep quality, academic performance, undergraduates, Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin.

The rapid growth of social media use among young people has raised concerns about its potential impact on mental health. This study examined the effects of social media usage on the mental health of undergraduate students at the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated the frequency and patterns of social media use, the relationship between social media engagement and mental health outcomes, students’ awareness of the psychological risks associated with excessive use, and strategies for promoting healthier digital engagement. The study was guided by Social Comparison Theory, which explains how individuals evaluate themselves through comparisons with others, particularly in digital environments. A survey research design was adopted. Data were collected from 490 undergraduate students drawn from different faculties of the University of Benin using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to analyze patterns of social media usage and mental health experiences, while inferential statistical techniques including Pearson Product–Moment Correlation, independent-samples t-test, and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that social media usage is highly prevalent among undergraduate students, with platforms such as WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, and X being the most frequently used. Many students reported spending several hours daily on these platforms, often during evening and late-night hours. The results further indicated that frequent and prolonged social media use is significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms among students. The study also found that greater awareness of the psychological risks associated with excessive social media use is linked to better mental health outcomes. The study concludes that while social media provides important opportunities for communication and social interaction, excessive engagement may expose students to psychological challenges. It therefore recommends the promotion of digital mental health literacy programs, strengthened counseling services, and institutional strategies that encourage
balanced and responsible social media use among students

The Study Investigate the Influence of Social Media on Mental Health Among Senior Secondary School Students in Oredo Local Government Area. Three research questions were raised to guide this study: What is the level of social media usage among
students in Oredo Local Government Area Edo state, Is there a relationship between social media usage and the mental health of students, What is the difference in relationship between social media usage and mental health of students among male and
female in Oredo Local Government Area Edo state. The population comprises Senior Secondary school students (SSS 1-3) within Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State. This includes students from public and private schools. Based on available data and school records, the estimated total number of students in SSS 1-3 across selected public and private secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area is 800. This figure represents the target population from which the sample for this study will be drawn. This study employed a simple random sampling technique to ensure that every student in the population had an equal chance of being selected. This method was chosen to minimize bias and enhance the representativeness of
the sample across Senior Secondary School(SSS 1-3) in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State. For this study, a total sample size of 200 students was selected from ten secondary schools within Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State. The findings revealed that, there is a high level of social media usage among students, driven by the search for gratifications such as social interaction and identity formation, the level of mental health among the students is low, characterized by early signs of difficulty such as sleep irritation, lack of energy, and self-isolation there is a significant relationship between social media usage and mental health, indicating that
heavy and prolonged time spent on these platforms contributes to increased symptoms of
anxiety and depression. The following recommendations are made: Parents should ensure
that their children are digitally and emotionally prepared for the impact of social media. They should support their children’s well-being by monitoring platform density and encouraging non-screen activities like sports and in-person socializing. Schools should incorporate programs that focus on digital literacy and mental health awareness as part of the secondary education curriculum. This will enhance students' ability to handle "comparison pressure" and improve mental health outcomes. The government should implement policies that ensure all schools have access to mental health counseling services that address digital conditioning and cyberbullying. This will ensure that students are better prepared for the psychological challenges of the digital age