Explaining the Effect of Social Media Addiction Model on Healthy Lifestyle with the Mediating Role of Social Isolation and Mental Health in Students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

MohammadAmin  Bahrami; Zahra  Farahmandfar; Payam  Farhadi; Sedighe Sadat  Tabatabaei Far

doi:10.18502/mshsj.v10i2.19847

MohammadAmin Bahrami Professor, Department of Healthcare Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Zahra Farahmandfar MSc student in Healthcare Services Management, Student Research Committee, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Payam Farhadi Ph.D. student of Healthcare Services Management, Student Research Committee, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Sedighe Sadat Tabatabaei Far Ph.D. student of Healthcare Services Management, Student Research Committee, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/mshsj.v10i2.19847

Keywords: Social media, Mental health, Social isolation, Healthy lifestyle

Abstract

Background: Nowadays, many students are active on social media and use it for various purposes. Excessive engagement with social media can lead to problems such as mental health disorders and social isolation among students who are considered the future builders of society. These issues may result in academic decline and reduced performance. Therefore, attention to social media addiction and its effects on a healthy lifestyle is of fundamental importance. Accordingly, this study aimed to explain a model of the impact of social media addiction on a healthy lifestyle, with the mediating role of social isolation and mental health among students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

Methods: This study was quantitative, cross-sectional, and applied in nature. The research population consisted of 9,905 students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Using stratified random sampling, 250 students from the faculties of Management, Nursing, and Health participated in the study. The sample size was determined as 250 based on the rule that a minimum of 30 samples is required for each parameter in structural equation modeling (SEM) using the PLS approach. Data were collected using four instruments: the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) by Walker, the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the standard Mental Health questionnaire by Keyes, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling (SEM) with SPSS ₂₅ and Smart PLS ₃ software.

Results: The findings indicated that social isolation and mental health mediated the relationship between social media addiction and a healthy lifestyle. Social media addiction did not directly affect a healthy lifestyle (p > 0.05), but its influence was indirect through social isolation and mental health. Furthermore, social media addiction had a negative impact on mental health. A positive relationship was found between social media addiction and social isolation (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Social isolation and mental health mediate the impact of social media addiction on a healthy lifestyle. To reduce this addiction among students, it is essential to strengthen healthy lifestyle behaviors, decrease social isolation, and promote mental health through educational and institutional support.