Clicks and minds: correlation between psychological distress and social media addiction among medical students in a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry

Background: Medical students are uniquely vulnerable to psychological distress, and ubiquity of social media introduces new risks for addiction that may exacerbate mental health challenges. This study explores the prevalence of social media addiction (SMA) and psychological distress among medical students and examines their interrelationships with academic performance (AP). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 620 MBBS students in a tertiary care medical college of Puducherry over 4 months from October 2024 to January 2025. Multistage systematic random sampling ensured equal representation across all batches (2019-2024). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire- Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and linear regression were used to clarify the relationships between main study variable. Results: Our study population included 56.6% female and 43.4% male, with a mean age of 20.7±0.64 years. The prevalence of social media addiction was 26%. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were present in 41.6%, 49%, and 37% of students, respectively. SMA was significantly correlated with depressive symptoms (r=0.804, p<0.01) and negatively correlated with AP (r=0.475, p<0.01). Linear regression identified depression as a significant predictor of SMA (β=0.47, p<0.001). Conclusions: SMA is common among medical students and is strongly associated with psychological distress, particularly depression, and poorer academic outcomes. These findings underscore the critical need for holistic wellness programs and digital literacy interventions to bolster mental health and healthier social media habits within medical education, addressing the pressing mental health concerns prevalent among students.