Impact of Social Media on Students Academic Performance: Case Study of School of Health Information, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos Plateau State

Abstract

Although social media is deeply embedded in undergraduate students’ academic and personal lives, its relationships with academic performance and mental well-being remain complex. This study examined the relationship between social media use and academic performance, assessed its impact on mental health and well-being, and evaluated whether social media activities predicted academic outcomes. A quantitative approach was employed, with data analyzed using multinomial and binary logistic regression in SPSS. The overall regression models were statistically significant; however, individual predictors—including time spent on social media, level of social media addiction, and use of social media for academic purposes—were not statistically significant (p > .05). Collectively, the models accounted for substantial variance in academic performance (Nagelkerke R² = .977), social media addiction (Nagelkerke R² = .798), and academic impact (Nagelkerke R² = .911). The findings suggest that excessive social media use is negatively associated with academic achievement and mental well-being, while the nonsignificant individual predictors indicate that these outcomes may reflect the combined influence of multiple social media behaviors. This study underscores the importance of strengthening digital literacy and promoting balanced online engagement among undergraduate students.