Perceived Effect of Social Media Usage on Students’ Mental Health and Academic Achievement: A Study
Keywords:
Academic Achievement, Higher Education, Mental Health, Perceived Effects, Social Media UsageSynopsis
The present study titled "Perceived Effect of Social Media Usage on Students’ Mental Health and Academic Achievement: A Study" investigates how university students perceive the impact of social media on their mental well-being and academic performance. It also explores the influence of social and demographic factors such as gender, academic program, residence, parental occupation, and parental awareness. Data were collected from 156 undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University of Hyderabad using standardized tools. The findings revealed that the majority of students (65.4%) perceived a moderate effect of social media usage, with significant variations based on gender, academic program, age, residence, and parental factors. Interestingly, while female, undergraduate, and younger students reported higher perceived effects, no significant direct relationship was found between perceived social media effect, mental health, and academic achievement.
The study also found that most students demonstrated moderate mental health levels (71.8%), and regular social media users reported better mental health than non-users. Similarly, in terms of academic performance, social media users and postgraduate students reported higher SGPA scores, indicating that responsible social media usage may enhance academic outcomes. Parental occupation, particularly that of mothers, was also linked to both academic performance and perceived social media impact. However, regression analyses confirmed that these variables did not have a significant predictive relationship with one another.
In conclusion, the study underscores that the effects of social media are contextual and shaped by individual and social factors, rather than being uniformly positive or negative. These results highlight the need for balanced digital engagement, digital literacy, and institutional support structures to help students leverage the benefits of social media while minimizing its risks.
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Published
June 4, 2026
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Data will be made available upon reasonable request.
Copyright (c) 2026 Jnanasetu Press
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ISBN-13 (15)
978-81-686924-2-8
