Screen time and mental well-being of students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from a survey among medical and engineering students
Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry
; 38(1):26-31, 2022.
Article
in English
| ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1776456
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives:
Concerns have been expressed about the possible adverse impact of increased screen time on the psychological well-being of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study aimed to assess the relationship between screen time and mental well-being among college students.Methods:
This cross-sectional online survey-based study was conducted among Indian college students. Details regarding sociodemographics and the amount and pattern of screen time usage and mental well-being (assessed using World Health Organization Well-Being Index;5) were collected. Furthermore, personality traits were assessed using a validated questionnaire.Results:
The final study sample comprised of 731 medical and engineering undergraduate students with a mean age of 20.7 years. The total screen time across different devices among the study participants for both weekdays and weekends was comparable, with a median value of 540 min. Poor mental well-being was significantly associated with higher total screen time (P = 0.03). Furthermore, screen time use predominantly to access social media for noncommunication purposes was associated with significantly lower mental well-being scores (P = 0.03).Conclusions:
The current study highlights the impact of screen time on the mental well-being of students. The higher total screen time use was associated with poor mental well-being. Various types of screen time could have a differential relation with the mental well-being of students. Increased screen time use predominantly to access social media for noncommunication purposes was associated with a higher risk of poor mental well-being.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
ProQuest Central
Type of study:
Observational study
Language:
English
Journal:
Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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