Social media dependency and sleep quality in high school students

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate effects of social media addiction on sleep quality in high school students between 16 and 19 years of age.

Methods: In this study, we used the validated Turkish version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Facebook Addiction Index. P values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Seven hundred sixty-one students from two different schools were attended to the study (516 male (67.8%) and 245 female (32.2%)).

Results: There was a significant relation between the scores of Facebook Addiction Index and PSQI (p=0.000, p<0.05). We showed that, as the Facebook Addiction Index score increases, sleep quality decreases. The comparison of Facebook Addiction Index and PSQI scores according to age groups showed no significant difference (p=0,745, p=0,826, p>0,05). PSQI scores were significantly different based on genders (p=0,000, p<0,05). Sleep quality was found worse in female students compared to male ones. Facebook Addiction Index scores were significantly different between two schools (p=0,000, p<0,05). Facebook Addiction Index scores of Techinal High School students were higher.

Conclusion: Problematic sleep habits and sleep problems were found more common in adolescents with higher Facebook Addiction Index scores. Health workers and families should be aware of the probable unfavorable effects of excessive and uncontrolled social media usage on sleep habits.