PO-0879Impact Of University Students' Use Of Social Media On Their Level Of Loneliness And Anxiety

Background and aimsAlong with the many conveniences introduced into our lives by use of the computer and internet, there are also many problems associated with the excessively frequent use of them. According to Rehm, the internet is a means for individuals to redefine themselves both individually and socially in several aspects including among others education, health, child development, dialogue, intercommunication, self-fulfilment, but can also be the cause of reduced social communication as well as social deviations. The longer time the internet is used, the less enter the users into relationship with people in social life; which may result in "social isolation".This research was carried out in the form of a descriptive study aimed to identify the impact of university students' use of social media on their level of loneliness and anxiety.MethodsThe universe of research consisted of 754 students of a state university, willing to participate in research. In the personal data sheet developed for the purpose of data gathering, the researchers made use of the Beck Anxiety Inventory and UCLA Loneliness Scale. The researchers obtained written permits form the state university's ethics committee as well as written and verbal consent forms from participating students.ConclusionThe results revealed that 65.1% of the participants had an own personal computer, 60.7% had a Facebook account, 14.5% a Twitter account, 37.4% spent 1-2 h on the computer, while 18.6% spent 3-4 h; and that 31.6% used the internet to get information, 11% to get socialised/establish friendships, 27.6% to get rid of boredom, and 32.2% to engage in conversation.DiscussionThe loneliness level of students making use of social media 8 h a day or more, the anxiety level of students making use of social media almost never/only once in a month or those staying with their relatives, and the anxiety and loneliness level of those at an age of 31 and more have been found to be high.