Background: The popularity of the internet and social media usage has risen over the past two decades, with unlimited access to data and seamless connections for communication in different locations. Having an increased social media use can be associated with having deteriorated mental health.
Objective: To determine the association of social media use pattern and mental health status among the medical students of a private Medical School in the Philippines.
Methodology: The researchers used systematic random sampling method in selecting 384 respondents. Analytical cross-sectional design was used. Two validated instruments, the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were used to measure social media use pattern and mental health status respectively.
Results: Results showed that sex was not significantly associated with internet addiction while age was significant. The total IAT scores of the respondents showed that more than half of the respondents have a mild internet addiction while have a moderate internet addiction. Respondents classified to have a normal level of internet usage and severe dependence on the internet were 14.32% and 1.04%, respectively.
Conclusion: The hyperactivity and prosocial subscales were found to be the most significantly associated with the level of social media dependency. While mental health subscales of emotional, conduct and peer were not significant. The research found that the majority of the medical students who were categorized to have mild dependence on social media and low mental health problems also appear to be hyperactive and have low prosocial behaviors.

Authors:
Desiree Daniega, Far Eastern University- Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, Philippines
Djoseth Paula Macomb, Far Eastern University- Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, Philippines
Lady Alexis Jin Aduca, FEU-NRMF, Philippines
Casser John Aguinaldo, FEU-NRMF, Philippines
Michael Angelo Avila, FEU-NRMF, Philippines
Ryan Ali Banjal, FEU-NRMF, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Desiree R. Daniega is an Asst Professor in the Institute of Medicine, Dept of Community and Family Medicine of the Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation in the Philippines.She is currently a PHD student in the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

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