Problematic Social Media Use, Personality Traits, and Mental Health Among Bangladeshi University Students

Abstract

Problematic social media use (PSMU) has received increasing attention among mental health professionals. There are a few studies that have explored the relationships between PSMU, personality traits, and mental health. However, there is scarcity of information related to usage duration, usage purpose of different social media, and prevalence rates of the risk of PSMU in Bangladesh. Consequently, the present survey study explored the relationship between these variables among university students in Bangladesh (N = 332). The present study found that 8.7% social media users were classed as problematic social media users. Results also showed (i) low conscientiousness (i.e., being careless, impulsive, disorganized) was significantly associated with PSMU; (ii) low agreeableness (i.e., cold, unfriendly), low conscientiousness, and high social media use were predictors of PSMU; and (iii) low conscientiousness, high neuroticism, and PSMU were significantly associated with self-rated poor mental health. Specialized programs and workshops are needed to raise awareness among Bangladeshi students, and counseling services are recommended to counter the negative effects of PSMU and facilitate improved mental health.