THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA VOLUME AND ADDICTION ON SLEEP

QUALITY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN STUDENTS OF

ATENEO DE ZAMBOANGA UNIVERSITY - SCHOOL OF MEDICINE:

A CROSS-SECTIONAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

 IAN KRISTOPHER T. BAYAN
Masters of Public Health
A. INTRODUCTION

Addiction usually refers to compulsive behavior that leads to negative effects. In most

addictions, people feel compelled to do certain activities so often that they become a harmful

habit, which then interferes with other important activities such as work or school.

In that context, a social networking addict could be considered someone with a

compulsion to use social media to excess -- constantly checking Facebook status updates, for

example, for hours on end which may affect sleep quality and academic performance of students.

The sleep-wakefulness cycle is known to be in part regulated by endogenous

neurochemistry and the output of circadian rhythms (Fisher, 20123) However, the timing and

quality of sleep and its cycling are also highly dependent on exogenous environmental (e.g.,

caffeine, alcohol, and sleep medication) and medical (e.g., sleep apnea and depression) factors

(Porka-Heiskanen, 2014). High-quality sleep is essential for maintaining mental and physical

health, with poor sleep quality and sleep disorders associated with chronic diseases such as type

II diabetes and cardiovascular disease and cognitive performance (Banks, 2007). This is

particularly true for medical students, who are known to be at particular risk for different types

of sleep-related problems including sleep deprivation, poor quality sleep (Giri et. Al, 2013), and

excessive daytime sleepiness. Since poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness have been

associated with poor academic performance in some studies, understanding the factors that

contribute to poor sleep quality is important so that students can make proactive and informed

lifestyle choices that have a positive impact on their medical training and quality of life.
 Social media use has grown rapidly over recent years, facilitated by the widespread

availability of low-cost smartphones. In the Philippines, according to the Asia Digital Marketing

Association (ADMA) and the Internet World statistics, there are over a billion Internet users in

the AsiaPacific region, which amounts to over 46% of the total Internet users in the world. The

Philippines, specifically has over 44.2 million users, the second highest ranking in Southeast

Asia and the 6th in the whole of Asia. While we’re yet to see the majority of the Philippine

population online, enough data supports how addicted the Philippines is to the digital life.

According to We Are Social’s Digital Report as of January 2015, the Philippines leads in

average “Time Spent on the Internet” through laptop and desktop, and one of the highest via

mobile worldwide. From a global average of 4.4 hours/day, the Filipino spends an average of 6.3

hours/day online via laptop and 3.3 hours/day via mobile. Some data suggest that smartphone use

by college students may increase depression and anxiety and reduce sleep quality and that

general internet addiction and insomnia may contribute to depression, much less is known about

the association between social media use and sleep quantity and quality and there have be no

studies on social media use and sleep quality in medical students.

B. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Social media has been helpful for our generation today, such as a feeling of

community and being able to reach out to others almost anywhere at any time. More so social

media has given access to opinions and information that can expand our minds and widen our

horizon. Some research even suggests that certain platforms may have a positive impact on

mental health by providing opportunities for connections that may otherwise not happen;

others suggest social media behaviour and posts can be useful identifiers or predictors of

depression. There’s a darker side to how social media can affect us, however. According to

researchers, the more time you spend on social media, the more likely you are to suffer from

mental health issues (Dube 2016). This is especially true in children and teens, however,

prolonged and excessive use presents dangers that have become more evident in adults as

well. Multiple studies have begun to focus on the disturbing association between online

social networking and a variety of negative feelings and psychiatric disorders.

A study done by Nicole, (2007), students and teenagers have especially recognized

these social media platforms to be able to contact their peers, share information, reinvent

their personas and showcase their social live. Poor academic performance was seen in

students who uses facebook. Also Karpinski (2009) stated that social media has a negative

association with students’ academic performance which is much greater than the advantages

derived through the use of social media platforms. People around the globe have been

addicted to the internet which has given rise to more students using social media more often

than before. Nalwa & Anand (2003) advised and recommended that those who are addicted

users love to use the internet to set back their personal and professional responsibilities in
which the final outcome is poor academic performance. It was highlighted in the finding of

Karpinski (2009) that social media platforms (Facebook, watzapp etc) users usually devote

lesser time to their studies has to compared to nonusers did and subsequently has lower

GPAs. It was also mentioned by Karpinski, & Duberstein (2009), that among the major

distraction of current generation that social media platform (such Facebook, Watzapp etc.)

remains a major distractions. According to Kubey, Lavin, and Barrows (2001), there is a

correlation between academic performance and the dependency on social media platforms.

Researchers have conducted different studies to find out the influence of social platforms

users, for instance a study on ‘’impact of Facebook on undergraduates academic

performance’’, stated that social platforms have negative impact on students. ISSN: 2289-

6694 Page 16 According to the outcome, students’ academic performance is affected the

more they use Facebook. Social platforms are mainly used by students for socializing

activities rather than academic purpose (Oye, 2012). In addition (Oye, 2012) said that

majority of students feel that social platforms have positive impact on academic growth. In a

different research conducted by Shana (2012) it was ascertain that students use platforms

mainly for chatting and making friends. ‘’The consequences of internet and social platforms

on students’ academic growth’’ a study than by Young (2006) it was seen that internet has

spread its wings to reach teenager’s school life. It was also observed by Young that students

are more dependent on internet to access info that pertain their academic life as well as

entertainment. Additionally, Young said that internet, though take a lot of time, and have less

impact on studies. It was observed by Wang (2011) that impact of social platforms rest on the

degree of usage. Jeong (2005) observed that internet addiction is significantly and negatively

related to students’ academic growth, as well as emotional attributes. Seo (2004) confirms
 Jeong statement when he opined that the negative influence of internet is only on excessive

users and not on all users. Rather (2013, p. 69) avers that: the social platforms which are

being used today with great desire and enthusiasm have altered the way of using internets in

this modern age by defining online tools and utilities which allow users for communication,

participation and collaboration of information online. Today’s young generation, especially

teens and youth are using technology through innovative ways due to which they are referred

to as millennial and have changed the way they think, work and communicate even though

they are in formative years of their life. Today’s youth because of social platforms have

become technology addicts and are quite withdrawn.

C. Objectives:

1. General Objectives:

This study aims to determine the impact of social media volume and addiction on sleep

quality and academic performance on students of Ateneo de Zamboanga University – School

of medicine

2. Specific objectives:

a) To determine the effects of social media volume and addiction on sleep quality of Ateneo

de Zamboanga medical students?

b) To determine the impact of social media and volume on academic performance of Ateneo

de Zamboanga medical students?

D. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study can be a basis for conceiving a potential tool for managing the negative impact

of social media volume and addiction on students study habits and related measures to improve

their academic performance.

Moreover, not only the students of the Ateneo de Zamboanga School of Medicine may

benefit from the result of this study but those of other schools as they learn to manage their time

spent for social media and ways to prevent addiction to it. Furthermore, the results of these data

will serve as a baseline for other researchers to utilize in the future.

E. Scope and Delimitation

Scope of this study is to determine the impact of social media volume and

addiction on sleep quality and academic performance of students among Ateneo de

Zamboanga University – School of medicine. This study does not attempt to define the cause

and effect relationship of social media usage and sleep quality and academic performance of

students. Determining the measures to improve their sleep quality and academic

performance is also not included in this study.

G. Operational Definition Of Terms

Social media volume – the amount of time spent of a student while using social media

application and internet usage.

Social media addiction – compulsive behaviour which interferes with important activities and the

he/she is conscious of its effects.

Sleep Quality –
H. Conceptual Framework

TIME AND DURATION

SOCIAL MEDIA FRIENDS AND PEOPLE
Quality of sleep
CONNECTION
Academic performance
NATURE OF USAGE

INTERNET ADDICTION

CHAPTER II

A. Research design

This cross-sectional observational study will be conducted between April to May in

Ateneo da Zamboanga University – School of Medicine. All medical students will be invited

to participate. The researcher will explain the study objectives and protocol to the medical

students. All the medical students will be asked to complete the questionnaire given.

Participation will be voluntary, anonymous, and unpaid.

B. Population

The participants are the medical students of Ateneo de Zamboanga School of Medicine

Inclusion criteria:

1. 1st year to 3rd year medical students of who are enrolled in Ateneo de Zamboanga

University school of medicine.

Exclusion criteria:
1. Refusal to participate in the said study.

C. Sampling Design and Sample Size

In this study, purposive sampling will be used as a sampling technique wherein the

targeted populations are the 1st year to 4th year medical students of ADZO-SOM and total

count will be used as sample size.

D. Research Setting

This study will be conducted in Ateneo de Zamboanga University – School of Medicine

which comprises of approximately less than 200 students from 1st year to 4th year located in

Zamboanga City.

E. Research Instrument

The questionnaires were designed based on the objectives of this study and previously

published instruments by other researchers in order to assess:

1. Social Media Usage – two social media variables were assessed with multiple questions

to measure (1) volume and (2) addiction for 5 networking sites: Facebook, Youtube,

Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

a. The volume was assessed according to the total number of hours spent on social

media per day: Never, <15min/day, 15-30min/day, 31-60min/day, 61-

120min/day, 121-180min/day, or over 180min/day.

b. Addiction was assessed using the well-validated modified six-item Bergen

Facebook scale as proposed by

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A. TIME FRAME

JAN FEB MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY

CONCEPT PAPER
WRITING
PROTOCOL PAPER
SUBMISSION
SURVEY
IMPLEMENTATION
AND DATA
GATHERING