Assessment of Social Media Addiction, Academic Stress, and Mental Health among College and University Students
Abstract
Social media has become an integral part of the daily lives of college and university students, providing opportunities for communication, learning, entertainment, and professional networking. While these digital platforms facilitate information sharing and social interaction, excessive and uncontrolled use has raised concerns regarding social media addiction and its influence on students' academic performance, psychological well-being, and overall mental health. This study assesses the relationship between social media addiction, academic stress, and mental health among college and university students. It examines how prolonged social media engagement affects concentration, time management, academic achievement, sleep quality, interpersonal relationships, and emotional well-being. The study also explores the role of academic pressure, examination stress, parental expectations, peer competition, and career uncertainty in influencing students' mental health. Furthermore, it discusses common psychological outcomes associated with excessive social media use, including anxiety, depression, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional exhaustion, and reduced life satisfaction. The study highlights the importance of digital literacy, healthy online behaviour, psychological resilience, time management, counselling services, and institutional support in promoting balanced social media use and improving students' mental well-being. It emphasizes that collaborative efforts by educational institutions, families, healthcare professionals, and policymakers are essential for preventing social media addiction and reducing academic stress. The study concludes that responsible digital engagement, effective stress management strategies, and comprehensive mental health interventions can significantly improve students' academic success, emotional stability, and overall quality of life while supporting healthy personal and professional development in the digital era.