The Impact of Social Media Use on the Mental Health of School-Aged Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 school-aged children aged 12–17 years. Data were collected using an anonymous questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, daily social media use, sleep patterns, and mental health status. Mental well-being and depressive symptoms were evaluated using standardized screening questions. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were performed to determine the association between social media use and mental health outcomes.

Results:

Among the participants, 62.0% reported using social media for more than 3 hours per day. Anxiety symptoms were observed in 54.2% of participants, depressive symptoms in 48.4%, and feelings of loneliness in 42.6%. Greater exposure to social media was associated with poorer sleep quality, increased feelings of loneliness, and more pronounced depressive symptoms. Children who spent less time on social media demonstrated better overall well-being compared with those who reported prolonged daily use. Excessive social media use was significantly associated with poorer mental health indicators (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Excessive social media use may negatively affect the mental well-being of school-aged children and may contribute to psychological stress, sleep disturbances, and other mental health problems. Promoting healthy digital habits, increasing parental involvement, and implementing mental health education programs may help reduce the potential negative effects of excessive social media use.