This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.
Bharti Rai,
- Lecturer, Department of Mental Health Nursing, Chirayu College of Nursing, Madhya Pradesh, India
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Social media has become an important part of students’ everyday lives, serving as a platform for communication, learning, entertainment, and the exchange of information. Despite its benefits, prolonged or uncontrolled use of social media can develop into addictive behaviour, which may adversely influence students’ academic achievement, psychological well-being, sleep patterns, and interpersonal relationships. At the global level, approximately 56.8% of the population is reported to use social media. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (2024) indicated that around 11% of adolescents from 44 countries demonstrate problematic patterns of social media use. In view of these concerns, the present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of social media addiction among nursing students.OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of social media addiction among nursing students and to examine its relationship with selected socio-demographic characteristics.METHODOLOGY: A quantitative research approach employing a descriptive research design was used for the study. The research was carried out among 185 nursing students enrolled at Maan College of Nursing, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Participants were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling method. Data were gathered electronically through a structured Google Form consisting of two sections: socio-demographic information and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Based on their BSMAS scores, participants were classified into three categories of social media addiction risk: low risk (6–18), moderate risk (19–23), and high risk (24–30).RESULTS: The result showed that 140 (76%) students were at low risk, 25 (14%) were at moderate risk, and 20 (11%) were at high risk of addiction. Significant associations were found with year of study, daily hours spent on social media, purpose of social media use, and primary social media platform used whereas no significant association was found with other selected demographic variables. DISCUSSION: The findings indicate that social media addiction among nursing students is mainly influenced by usage patterns rather than demographic characteristics.CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the need for awareness, counselling, and educational interventions to promote responsible social media use and digital well-being.
Keywords: Social Media Addiction, BSMAS, Prevalence, Digital Well-being, Social Networking Sites
[This article belongs to Journal of Nursing Science & Practice ]
References
[1] Jaff YD, Ciftci D, “The effect of social media dependence on the perceived academic performance of university students in Cameroon: the role of psychological well-being and social anxiety”,Front Psychol. 2025 Oct 24;16:1598724.Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1598724. PMID: 41209787; PMCID: PMC12592132.
[2] Bincy Cherian1, Ashfa Anjum2, “Social Media Addiction: A Rising Concern and the Nursing Response”,TIJER || ISSN 2349-9249 || © June 2025, Volume 12, Issue .
[3] Fiorela Nicoll Bocanegra Cuadros, Carla Beatriz Goñi Maqui, Enzo Paolo Gutierrez Vasque, Vania Yulisa Abanto Castro, Kennedy Luigui Quispilaya Capcha, Telmo Mejía Garcia, “A cross section study on social media addiction in students at the school of nursing”. https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2026.
[4] Vasantha Malagi, Prof. Devi Nanjappan, Noorul Hussain, Onimang Nitik, “exploring the social media landscape of nursing students: a descriptive analysis of social media addiction at smt. Nagarathnamma college of nursing, Bengaluru”, Article DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/17919.
[5] Ahmed Tawfeeq Alahmar, “The impact of social media on the academic performance of second year medical students at College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Iraq”. J Med Allied Sci. 2016; 6(2): 77-83. Doi:10.5455/jmas.236927.
[6] Andreassen, C. S., Torsheim, T., Brunborg, G. S., & Pallesen, S. (2012), “Development of a Facebook Addiction Scale”. Psychological Reports, 110(2), 501–517. https://doi.org/10.2466/02.09.18.PR0.110.2.501-517.
[7] Gomez, R., Zarate, D., Brown, T., Hein, K., & Stavropoulos, V. (2024), “The Bergen–Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS): longitudinal measurement invariance across a two-year interval Clinical Psychologist”, 28(2), 185–194. https://doi.org/10.1080/13284207.2024.2341816.
[8] SHABAN, Marwa Mamdouh, ABDOU, Nagah Mahmoud, EID, Mahmoud Magdy, IBRAHIM, Mostafa Ahmed,METWALY, Mohammed El Dean, SAYED, Mohamed Abdeltwab, MANSOUR, Youmna Magdy Abdulwahab, RAMADAN, Fatma Saad, “Prevalence of social media addiction among nursing students”, Journal of Integrative Nursing 5(2):p 145-150, Apr–Jun 2023. | DOI: 10.4103/jin.jin_127_22.
[9] Shaban, Marwa, Abdou, Nagah, Eid, Mahmoud, Ibrahim, Mostafa, Metwaly, Mohammed, Sayed, Mohamed, Mansour, Youmna, Ramadan, Fatma, “Prevalence of social media addiction among nursing students”, VL-5, Doi: – 10.4103/jin.jin_127_22.
[10] Alfaya MA, Abdullah NS, Alshahrani NZ, Alqahtani AAA, Algethami MR, Al Qahtani ASY, Aljunaid MA, Alharbi FTG, “Prevalence and Determinants of Social Media Addiction among Medical Students in a Selected University in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare (Basel)”, 2023 May 10;11(10):1370.doi: 10.3390/healthcare11101370. PMID: 37239655; PMCID: PMC10217812.
[11] Gopakumar G, Surathkumaar H, T R, V A, Viswanath S, Joseph J, “Prevalence of Social Media Addiction and Its Determinants Among College Students in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu”, 2025 May 22;17(5):e84625. doi: 10.7759/cureus.8462. PMID: 40546496; PMCID: PMC12182869.
Journal of Nursing Science & Practice
| Volume | 16 | |
| Issue | 03 | |
| Received | 30/07/2026 | |
| Accepted | 03/10/2026 | |
| Published | 08/10/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 70 Days |