IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON SLEEP PATTERN AMONG STUDENTS OF SARHAD UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of social media on sleep patterns among adults at Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology Peshawar. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how social media use affects adults' sleep patterns at Sarhad University of science and information technology Peshawar effects of social media use on their general well-being and quality of sleep. A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 334 students selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering demographics, social media usage habits, and sleep patterns, and analyzed through SPSS (version 2020). The results revealed that the majority of participants (75.4%) reported using social media for more than 30 minutes before bedtime, with 24.6% using it for over two hours. Nearly half (49.4%) perceived social media as negatively affecting their sleep, while 43.4% admitted frequently losing sleep due to late-night use. A substantial proportion (71.6%) checked social media immediately upon waking up, and 64.4% believed it had some effect on their sleep quality. These patterns indicate a strong association between excessive or ill-timed social media use and sleep-related disturbances. It is concluded that excessive use of social media, especially at night, significantly contributes to poor sleep quality among young adults. The promotion of digital hygiene, such as limiting screen use before bedtime, is recommended to improve sleep health. Further longitudinal studies are suggested to establish causality and guide effective interventions.