EXPLORING SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION AND IT’S IMPACT ON THE PSYCHOSOMATIC HEALTH OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN WESTERN ODISHA: A GENDER AND BMI PERSPECTIVE Abstract

Background: The prevalent issue of university students excessively utilizing social networking sites (SNSs) has raised significant apprehension due to its potential for cyber addiction and detrimental impact on psychosomatic health. Aim: The objective of this study was to explore the potential associations between addiction to SNSs, gender, body mass index (BMI), and health problems (HPs) in university students from Western Odisha. Methods and Materials: A survey consisting of a questionnaire was administered to a sample of 300 individuals, comprising 149(49.6%) males and 151 (50.33%) females enrolled in GM University and Sambalpur University Institute of Information Technology respectively. The gathered data underwent analysis and interpretation utilizing Microsoft Excel and SPSS 26.00. Results: Significant positive correlation between SNS addiction and BMI status. Gender differences in BMI status (x 2= 24.626, p<0.01), number of accounts (x 2= 34.048, p<0.01), and HP score (x 2= 49.984, p<0.01). No significant difference between gender and SNS addiction (x 2= 1.031, p>0.05) or academic performance (x 2= 11.881, p<0.05). Males had higher BMI status (mean rank= 169.04) than females (mean rank= 132.21) (H= 17.593, p<0.01). Females had higher HP score (mean rank= 161.37) than males (mean rank= 139.49) (H= 4.813, p<0.05). Males had more SNS accounts (mean rank= 167.57) than females (mean rank= 133.65) (H= 11.825, p<0.01). No significant difference in SNS addiction between males (mean rank= 146.31) and females (mean rank= 154.64) (H= 1.031, p>0.05). Conclusion: Excessive SNS addiction correlated with higher BMI in university students. Gender influenced BMI, number of SNS accounts, and HP score. Preventive measures are essential to address the detrimental impact on students’ well-being. The study highlights the adverse repercussions of SNS addiction on university students’ health in Western Odisha. Insights can aid healthcare practitioners, educators, and policymakers in formulating preventive measures.
Keywords: Social Networking Sites (SNSs), Cyber Addiction (CA), Body Mass Index (BMI), Psychosomatic Health (PH).