Influence of Social Media Use on Sexual Behavior of Undergraduate Students in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Despite the fact that social media enhances learning opportunities and increases access to information, it has also paved way for exposure to illicit sexual content online and misuse of social sites which has been linked to risky sexual behaviour among undergraduates. Therefore, an institutional-based cross-sectional design was utilized to determine the influence of social media use on sexual behaviour of undergraduate students in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 315 bonafide students. Data were collected using self-developed structured questionnaires and the same were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with level of significant set at 5% (0.05). The study revealed that all of the respondents 304 (100.0%) had access to internet and the majority 264 (86.8%) accessed the internet using mobile phones. Only 100(32.9%) of the respondents had high exposure to sexual content on social media and significant difference was observed in the extent of exposure to sexual contents via social media between the genders of participant with more males using social media for sexual purposes than females. The findings of the study also showed that there is significant association between exposure to sexual contents on social media and risky sexual behaviour among undergraduate students. Therefore, there is need for university authorities, parents and other stakeholders to plan interventional strategies to curb the use of social media to view illicit sexual content among undergraduate students.

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The Longitudinal Association Between Social-Media Use and Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents and Young Adults: An Empirical Reply to Twenge et al. (2018)

Clinical Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/2167702618812727 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 462-470 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Taylor Heffer ◽

Marie Good ◽

Owen Daly ◽

Elliott MacDonell ◽

Teena Willoughby

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Media Use ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Two Samples ◽

Longitudinal Association ◽

The Relationship ◽

Over Time

Research by Twenge, Joiner, Rogers, and Martin has indicated that there may be an association between social-media use and depressive symptoms among adolescents. However, because of the cross-sectional nature of this work, the relationship among these variables over time remains unclear. Thus, in this longitudinal study we examined the associations between social-media use and depressive symptoms over time using two samples: 594 adolescents ( Mage = 12.21) who were surveyed annually for 2 years, and 1,132 undergraduate students ( Mage = 19.06) who were surveyed annually for 6 years. Results indicate that among both samples, social-media use did not predict depressive symptoms over time for males or females. However, greater depressive symptoms predicted more frequent social-media use only among adolescent girls. Thus, while it is often assumed that social-media use may lead to depressive symptoms, our results indicate that this assumption may be unwarranted.

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Social Media Use and Students’ Health-Lifestyle Modification in University of Calabar, Nigeria

European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies ◽

10.26417/ejis.v5i1.p47-54 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 47

Author(s):

Ntongha Eni Ikpi ◽

Veronica Akwenabuaye Undelikwo

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Lifestyle Modification ◽

Media Use ◽

Survey Design ◽

Health Sector ◽

Positive Health ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Health Lifestyle ◽

Use Of Social Media

The use of social media platforms has over the years become a veritable tool for individuals, groups, institutions and corporate bodies for the promotion of health and wellness. In recent times, social media has become one of the most potent agents of the media through which health issues are addressed as well as generated and disseminated to different populations in society. The study was conducted to examine social media use and students’ health lifestyle modification in the University of Calabar, Nigeria. It sought to determine the extent to which students’ use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp) influences the modification of their health-related lifestyles such as eating habits, sexual behaviour, cigarette and alcohol consumption, drug use and the engagement in fitness activities. The study adopted a randomized descriptive survey design and used a sample of 300 undergraduate students. The questionnaire was the main instrument used for collection of data while simple percentages and means were used to determine the difference between the expected mean of 2.50 and the observed means across various items in the questionnaire. The results showed that apart from Twitter, social media use by University of Calabar students has significantly influenced the modification of their health lifestyles. Since social media has become a veritable tool for the promotion of positive health lifestyle, effort should be made by government through the health sector to create more awareness among students and the entire population of social media users, on the health benefits accruing from use of social media.

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Loneliness and Its Association With Social Media Use During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Social Media + Society ◽

10.1177/20563051211033821 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 205630512110338

Author(s):

Tore Bonsaksen ◽

Mary Ruffolo ◽

Janni Leung ◽

Daicia Price ◽

Hilde Thygesen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Online Survey ◽

Media Use ◽

Age Groups ◽

The United States ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Social And Emotional ◽

Emotional Loneliness ◽

Social Loneliness

Social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic changed social interaction for many and increased the risk of loneliness in the general population. Social media use has been ambiguously related to loneliness, and associations may differ by age. The study aimed to examine loneliness and its association with social media use within different age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia during April/May 2020, and 3,810 participants aged 18 years or above were recruited. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between social media use and social and emotional loneliness within separate age groups. Emotional loneliness was higher among young adults and among those who used social media several times daily. Adjusting by sociodemographic variables, using more types of social media was associated with lower social loneliness among the oldest participants, and with higher emotional loneliness among the youngest participants. Among middle-aged participants, using social media more frequently was associated with lower social loneliness. We found that the associations between social media use and loneliness varied by age. Older people’s engagement on social media may be a resource to reduce loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. We observed higher levels of loneliness among high-frequent social media users of younger age.

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The Influence of Social Media use on Practice of Covid-19 Preventive Measures Among Ethiopian Residents: An Online Cross-Sectional Study

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2021.184 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Abinet Arega Sadore ◽

Demelash Woldeyohannes Handiso ◽

Tekle Ejajo Wontamo ◽

Dejene Ermias Mekango ◽

Sisay Moges

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Risk Perception ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Media Use ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Preventive Practice ◽

Related Information ◽

Study Participants

Abstract Background: Infection with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a severe public health issue worldwide. A broad amount of information related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was disseminated by social media in Ethiopia. To date, there is limited evidence on the influence of social media use for covid-19 related information on covid-19 preventive practice. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the influence of social media use on the practice of COVID-19 preventive measures in Ethiopia. Methods: This study employed an anonymous internet-based online cross-sectional survey using Google forms to collects the data from the respondents from 15 May to 17 June 2020 in Ethiopia. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between social media usage as a predictor and COVID-19 preventive practice, after adjusting for socio-demographic and risk perception of COVID-19 variables. The data were analysed using SPSS version 21. Results: A total of 372 respondents have participated in the study. From 372, 208(55.9%) respondents in this study were male. Study participants who had good utilization of social media to get COVID-19 related information were 9.5 times engaged in COVID-19 preventive practices compared to study participants who had poor utilization of social media to get covid-19 related information (AOR= 9.59, 95% CI = 5.70 - 16.13). Also, study participants who had a high-risk perception of COVID-19 were 2.6 times engaged in COVID-19 practices compared to study participants who had a low-risk perception of covid-19 (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.58 - 4.38). Study participants who were students at the time of this study were four times more likely to show adequate COVID-19 preventive practice score compared to those who had another occupational status (AOR= 4.07, 95% CI= 1.66 - 9.98) Conclusions: Our results show that the usage of social media networks can have a positive effect on the practice of preventive measures and public safety against COVID-19; high-risk perception contributed to preventive activities against COVID-19. Social networking platforms can be used by public health agencies as an important method to raise public health understanding by disseminating concise messages to targeted audiences.

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Divergent effects of social media use on meaning in life via loneliness and existential isolation during the coronavirus pandemic

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/02654075211066922 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 026540752110669

Author(s):

Peter J. Helm ◽

Tyler Jimenez ◽

Madhwa S. Galgali ◽

Megan E. Edwards ◽

Kenneth E. Vail ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Social Media ◽

Meaning In Life ◽

Media Use ◽

The United States ◽

Psychological Consequences ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Media Usage ◽

Emotional Loneliness

Stay-at-home orders issued to combat the growing number of infections during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 had many psychological consequences for people including elevated stress, anxiety, and difficulty maintaining meaning in their lives. The present studies utilized cross-sectional designs and were conducted to better understand how social media usage related to people’s subjective isolation (i.e., social loneliness, emotional loneliness, and existential isolation) and meaning in life (MIL) during the early months of the pandemic within the United States. Study 1 found that general social media use indirectly predicted higher MIL via lower existential isolation and social isolation. Study 2 replicated these patterns and found that social media use also predicted lower MIL via higher emotional loneliness, and that the aforementioned effects occurred with active, but not passive, social media use. Findings suggest social media use may be a viable means to validate one’s experiences (i.e., reduce existential isolation) during the pandemic but may also lead to intensified feelings concerning missing others (i.e., increased emotional loneliness). This research also helps to identify potential divergent effects of social media on MIL and helps to clarify the relationships among varying types of subjective isolation.

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The “anti-vax” movement: a quantitative report on vaccine beliefs and knowledge across social media

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-12114-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Staci L Benoit ◽

Rachel F. Mauldin

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Media Use ◽

Knowledge Score ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Knowledge And Beliefs ◽

Twitter Users ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

Vaccine Information

Abstract Background Social media use has become a mainstay of communication and with that comes the exchange of factual and non-factual information. Social media has given many people the opportunity to speak their opinions without repercussions and create coalitionS of like-minded people. This also has led to the development of a community know as anti-vaxxers or vaccine deniers. This research explores the extent to which vaccine knowledge has reached on social media. Methods This cross sectional research explored the relationship between the spread of information regarding vaccines in relation to social media use. A sample of 2515 people over the age of 18 around the world completed the survey via a link distributed on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. A series of questions on vaccine knowledge and beliefs were compounded to create an individual’s “knowledge score” and a “belief score”. Knowledge scores were ranked from low knowledge to high knowledge with increasing scores. Belief scores were ranked from belief in myths to disbelief in myths with higher scores. This score was then analysed, using a Welch test and post hoc testing when applicable, across demographics and questions relating to social media use. Results Significant relations were found in both the knowledge and belief categories, many of which were similar findings between the two. North Americans had significantly lower knowledge and belief scores compared to all other continents. While the majority of people primarily use Facebook, Twitter users were significantly more knowledgeable. It was also found that higher education was correlated with higher knowledge and belief scores. Conclusions Overall, these correlations are important in determining ways to intervene into the anti-vax movement through the use of social media. Cross demographics were not analysed in this study but could be in future studies. To better understand the social media exposures related to vaccine information a follow up structured interview research study would be beneficial. Note that due to the cross sectional nature of this study, causal relationships could not be made.

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Physical Activity and Attitudes Toward Social Media Use of Active Individuals During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Survey

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.707921 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Mezna A. AlMarzooqi

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Media ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Media Use ◽

Real Life ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Physically Active ◽

Social Media Platforms

Background: Social media became an integral part of the lives of people because it encourages social relations and shares interests, activities, and real-life connections. As quarantine and lockdown orders are prolonged, many people, as well as those physically active individuals, typically responded to this stressful condition by using social media platforms.Objective: This study aimed to examine the level of physical activity of physically active individuals and their attitudes toward social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among physically active individuals in Saudi Arabia between June 2020 and July 2020. An online survey was employed among eligible participants who completed a self-administered questionnaire that covered reasons for physical activity and attitudes toward social media platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: Of these 323 participants, 29.1% were in the age group of 18–24 years, 66.6% were women, and 67.8% were single. The proportion of participants whose metabolic equivalent of tasks-min/week from vigorous activity <1,680 was 31.9%, and all of the participants follow people or pages in social media related to sports teams and fitness models. The average number of hours spent on social media per day was 2.95 ± 0.90 h. The majority of the participants showed positive attitudes toward social media used for exercise and physical activity. Of the eight variables, age, level of physical activity, and the average of hours spent on social media emerged as significant predictors of attitudes toward the use of social media (P < 0.05).Conclusions: The present survey results indicate adverse consequences of home quarantine as reflected by a small proportion of participants who had differences in levels of vigorous activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. Social media appears to be a key avenue to promote and disseminate health interventions to promote physical activity during this COVID-19 pandemic.

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Prevalence of problematic social media use among residents and teaching assistants in Ain Shams University Hospitals and faculty of medicine and its relationship to emotional distress

QJM ◽

10.1093/qjmed/hcab102.009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

H Allam ◽

G ELNahas ◽

M El-Habiby ◽

H Elkholy

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Media Use ◽

High Stress ◽

Well Being ◽

World Health ◽

University Hospitals ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Stress Levels ◽

Problematic Social Media Use

Abstract Background Social media use becomes pervasive and universal among young adults including medical personnel. Furthermore, it become established that more frequent use of the social media is associated with negative psychological well-being, anxiety which represents the second leading cause of disability among all psychiatric disorders and depression which represents the single largest contributor to global disability according to the World Health Organization. The Aim of this study To analyze the relationship between the use of social media, stress level, anxiety and depression among residents in Ain Shams University Hospitals (ASUH) and academic demonstrators in faculty of medicine. Patients and Methods This is an observational cross-sectional study, Conducted in Ain Shams University hospitals (ASUH), we included 200 of staff and medical school academics in faculty of medicine, starting from February 2018 till August 2019. Results 33 participants showed average social media use representing 16.5% while 167 participants showed problematic social media use representing 83.5%. 11 participants showed low stress levels representing 5.5%, 127 participants showed moderate stress levels representing 63.5% while 62 participants showed high stress levels representing 31%. Conclusion Social media use by clinicians is widespread, especially by younger clinicians for personal and reference purposes. Use of multiple SM platforms is independently associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, even when controlling for overall time spent in their use.

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