Social Media Addiction and Psychological Distress among University Students: A Cross-sectional Comparative Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62843/jrsr/2026.v.ii.206Keywords:
Social Media Addiction, Psychological Distress, Media and Communication Department, Psychology Department, StudentsAbstract
Students across the globe use social media for communication, academic activities, and other important aspects of life. However, when social media is used compulsively and excessively, it can lead to addiction, which may be detrimental to mental health. Literature regarding the comparison of social media addiction and psychological distress is limited, particularly regarding comparisons between students from the Media and Communication Department and the Psychology Department in Pakistan. The study utilized a comparative cross-sectional research design to examine differences in the variables between students from the two departments. The inclusion criteria comprised an age range of 18 to 35 years, enrollment in either the Media and Communication Department or the Psychology Department, and social media use for at least one year. The study utilized standardized questionnaires to measure the variables. Correlational analysis revealed significant relationships among the variables. Moreover, mean differences indicated no significant differences in social media addiction and psychological distress between students from the Media and Communication Department and those from the Psychology Department. The findings may reflect similarities in awareness and patterns of social media use among students from both groups. Further research is recommended to investigate these differences using larger and more diverse samples.
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