Association Between Social Media Usage Patterns and Social Anxiety Among Adolescents in Peshawar: A Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52206/jsmc.2026.16.2.1468Abstract
Background: Social anxiety is a prevalent and debilitating mental health condition among adolescents, with global prevalence estimated at 3.6% and reported rates ranging from 9–34% in Peshawar. The rapid expansion of social media usage among young populations has raised concerns regarding its potential psychological impact, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where context-specific data remain limited.
Objective: To assess the association between social media usage patterns and social anxiety among school-going adolescents in Peshawar.
Methodology: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 408 adolescents (204 males, 204 females) selected through multistage sampling from public and private schools. Data were collected using validated instruments, including the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A), Social Media Addiction Scale (SMA-S), and Passive and Active Use Measure (PAUM). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, applying descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Results: The mean daily social media usage was 3.1 ± 2.3 hours. Based on SAS-A scores, 13.7% of participants had high social anxiety, 60.3% moderate, and 26.0% low. Passive social media use demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation with social anxiety (r = 0.232, p < 0.001), whereas active use showed no significant association. Significant differences were observed across school type and grade level, with higher anxiety levels among public school and higher-grade students.
Conclusion: Social anxiety is a significant public health concern among adolescents in Peshawar. Passive social media engagement is significantly associated with increased social anxiety, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and awareness programs to promote healthy digital behaviors.
Keywords: Adolescent, Social Media, Social Anxiety.
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