Relationship of Problematic Social Media Use and Depression Among Addis Ababa University Main Campus Regular Undergraduate Students
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Date
2024-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Problematic social media use (PSMU) and its potential link to depression among university
students have become significant areas of concern. This study aims to explore the prevalence of
PSMU and its relationship with depression symptoms and identify demographic factors
associated with level of depression among undergraduate students at Addis Ababa University's
main campus. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 316 students using a stratified
random sampling method from March to April 2024. Data were collected using standardized
questionnaires, including the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Patient
Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were
employed to analyze the data. The study found that 17.1% of the respondents exhibited
problematic social media use. Additionally, the prevalence of depression was found to be 77
(24.3%:95% CI :19.7-29.5) with 4.4% of the participant found to have severe depression. The
odds of depression are 1.6 times higher in those compared to non-problematic social media
users (AOR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.4-1.8; p < 0.0001). Moreover, individuals who frequently use
social media to watch pornography have a 14 times greater likelihood of experiencing
depression compared to those who do not watch pornography at all. Compared to men, female
students report greater levels of depression. The findings indicate a high prevalence of PSMU
among undergraduate students at Addis Ababa University and a significant association with
depression symptoms. These results highlight the need for targeted interventions to address
PSMU and its mental health implications among university students.
Keywords: Problematic social media use (PSMU), Depression, TikTok, Social media
addiction, Addis Ababa University.
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Problematic social media use (PSMU), Depression, TikTok, Social media addiction, Addis Ababa University.