Social Media Addiction and Its Association With Psychological Distress and Academic Performance Among Libyan Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Social media addiction (SMA) is considered a major public health issue due to the increasing negative effects on academic performance, social behavior, and psychological well-being. The risk of addiction is heightened by students' use of social media platforms for communication, relationships, entertainment, or academic purposes. The current work assessed the examined social media addiction as a determinant of psychological distress and academic performance among Libyan future medical doctors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, and a self-reported questionnaire was utilized using Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), alongside validated measures for depression using the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale, anxiety using the generalized anxiety disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, and internet usage patterns. The questionnaire was pretested (n = 60) and demonstrated good internal reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.78-0.85). Medical students from their third academic year to the intern level were eligible to participate in the survey. Results: Among 318 participants, the prevalence of SMA was 12 (4%), while 95 (30%) were identified at high-risk users. Chi-square analysis showed that SMA was significantly associated with the average daily time spent online, and symptoms of depression and anxiety, while no significant association was observed with sociodemographic variables. Multiple linear regression showed that daily internet use, time spent online, and mental health symptoms were strong predictors of BSMAS score. Conclusion: This study found that SMA, depression, and anxiety are common among Libyan medical students. These findings highlight the relevance of incorporating digital wellness and mental health education into medical curricula, while longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causal pathways.