ArticleFrontiers in public health2026
Problematic social media use, digital health literacy, and psychological distress in Saudi adolescents.
Article in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Objectives: This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of problematic social media use (PSMU) among Saudi adolescents and its associations with digital health literacy (DHL) and psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress). Methods: A total of 330 Saudi adolescents (170 male, 160 female) aged 13-18 years from intermediate and secondary schools in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, completed validated Arabic versions of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), the Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with PSMU and its mental health correlates. Results: The prevalence of PSMU was 34.8% (95% CI: 29.7-40.2%), with significantly higher rates among females compared to males (41.9% vs. 28.2%, Conclusion: PSMU is highly prevalent among Saudi adolescents in Madinah and is strongly associated with low digital health literacy and adverse mental health outcomes. These cross-sectional findings demonstrate associations between PSMU, low digital health literacy, and adverse mental health outcomes, suggesting the potential value of school-based digital literacy interventions and mental health screening programmes. However, longitudinal studies are needed to establish causal relationships before definitive intervention recommendations can be made.
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