SOCIAL MEDIA USE AS A PREDICTOR FOR PERCEIVED ISOLATION, SOCIAL DISCONNECTEDNESS, AND ACADEMIC FAILURE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS: A PILOT STUDY
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Keywords
Social Media, Perceived Isolation, Social Disconnectedness, Academic Failure, Mental Health
Abstract
Background: The widespread use of social media has revolutionized communication, particularly among young adults. Medical students, owing to academic pressure and limited face-to-face interaction, are increasingly vulnerable to negative psychological effects of excessive social media use, including perceived isolation and poor academic outcomes.
Objectives: To understand and explore the relationship between social media usage patterns and their impact on perceived isolation, social disconnectedness, and academic performance among medical students.
Methods: A two staged cross-sectional and mixed method model study was conducted among 70 medical students. Failed students were screened and surveyed using standardized validated tools, including UCLA Loneliness Scale, Internet Addiction Test (IAT), WHO-5 Well-being Index, Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2). Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to assess correlations and predictive values.
Results: A total of 70 medical students from all semester participated, with a nearly equal gender distribution. Excessive social media use (>6 hours daily) was significantly associated with higher loneliness (UCLA score 52±7.5), internet addiction (IAT score 55±10), anxiety (GAD-2 score 3.1±1.4), and depressive symptoms (PHQ-2 score 3±1.5). Students reporting suicidal ideation (17.10%) or self-harm (8.57%) had significantly higher loneliness (UCLA, p=0.045) and higher social media integration (SMUIS, p=0.015) alongside reduced well-being (suicidal ideation group: 50 ± 21 vs. 75 ± 22, p = 0.010; self-harm group: 47 ± 20 vs. 70 ± 21, p = 0.018). No significant correlation was observed between social connectedness (LSNS-6), cognitive performance (Web-cog), and psychological scales.
Conclusion: Excessive social media use is significantly linked to loneliness, anxiety, depression, and poor well-being among Indian medical students. Targeted interventions are needed to mitigate these risks.
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Ishu Bamal
Department of Psychiatry, Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Praveen Khairkar
Department of Psychiatry, Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Yosha Raghuvanshi
Department of Psychiatry, Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Chirag Ambaliya
Department of Psychiatry, Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Rohan Modi
Department of Psychiatry, Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India