Impact of Social Media Usage on the Variables of Anxiety and Reward Sensitivity among Medical Undergraduates

Background: As the popularity of social networking sites (SNS) is surging among the today's young generation, any proposed psychiatric conditions associated with it can pose serious public health issue, potentially becoming a global cyber-epidemic. Empirical evidence regarding the extent of SNS use and its association with the mental health status of medical students is scarce in India. On the backdrop of these situations, the present study is conducted. Objectives: To establish the relationship between social media usage and anxiety, to assess the effect of social media usage on reward sensitivity. Materials and Methods: All students from first year of MBBS to final year were included. Participants were asked to answer the questions provided in a survey format. The measures used were: a) Demographic Questionnaire b) Reward Sensitivity Measure c) Social Anxiety Measure d) Social Anxiety on Social Media Measure. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, the research involved 233 students from Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Hospital. Results: The findings indicate a strong correlation between social media use and social anxiety, with increased usage linked to higher reward sensitivity. According to the study, users of social media have a larger chance of encountering rewarding content the more time they spend online, and the rewarding content encourages them to use social media for longer periods of time. The study highlights the importance of recognizing the potential cognitive and affective drawbacks of excessive social media use among young adults. Conclusion: While social media platforms aim to connect individuals, this study highlights their potential negative impact on mental health, particularly in promoting social anxiety and altering reward sensitivity among medical students. Recognizing these effects is crucial in developing strategies to mitigate the adverse outcomes associated with excessive social media use.