Adverse Health Effects and Unhealthy Behaviors among Medical Students Using Facebook

Little is known about the relationships between adverse health effects and unhealthy behaviors among medical students using Facebook. The aim of this study was to determine the associations between adverse health effects and unhealthy behaviors with Facebook use. A cross-sectional study was conducte...

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Main Authors: Sami Abdo Radman Al-Dubai, Kurubaran Ganasegeran, Mustafa Ahmed Mahdi Al-Shagga, Hematram Yadav, John T. Arokiasamy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/465161
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author Sami Abdo Radman Al-Dubai
Kurubaran Ganasegeran
Mustafa Ahmed Mahdi Al-Shagga
Hematram Yadav
John T. Arokiasamy
author_facet Sami Abdo Radman Al-Dubai
Kurubaran Ganasegeran
Mustafa Ahmed Mahdi Al-Shagga
Hematram Yadav
John T. Arokiasamy
author_sort Sami Abdo Radman Al-Dubai
collection DOAJ
description Little is known about the relationships between adverse health effects and unhealthy behaviors among medical students using Facebook. The aim of this study was to determine the associations between adverse health effects and unhealthy behaviors with Facebook use. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a private university in Malaysia among 316 medical students. A self-administered questionnaire was used. It included questions on sociodemographics, pattern of Facebook use, social relationship, unhealthy behaviors, and health effects. Mean age was 20.5 (±2.7) years. All students had a Facebook account. The average daily Facebook surfing hours were 2.5 (±1.7). Significant associations were found between average hours of Facebook surfing and the following factors: isolation from family members and community, refusing to answer calls, musculoskeletal pain, headache, and eye irritation (P<0.005). The average hours spent on Facebook were significantly associated with holding urination and defecation while online, surfing Facebook until midnight, and postponing, forgetting, or skipping meals (P<0.005). The average hours spent on Facebook were associated with adverse health effects and unhealthy behaviors among medical students, as well as social isolation from the family and community.
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publishDate 2013-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series The Scientific World Journal
spelling doaj-art-5f8d08c7801d40b5a26e0e934520fee72025-08-20T03:34:22ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2013-01-01201310.1155/2013/465161465161Adverse Health Effects and Unhealthy Behaviors among Medical Students Using FacebookSami Abdo Radman Al-Dubai0Kurubaran Ganasegeran1Mustafa Ahmed Mahdi Al-Shagga2Hematram Yadav3John T. Arokiasamy4Department of Community Medicine, International Medical University (IMU), No. 126 Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, 57000 Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaInternational Medical School, Management and Science University (MSU), University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga, Section 13, 40100 Shah Alam, Selangor, MalaysiaNewcastle University Medicine Malaysia, Main Campus, Jalan Sarjana 1, Kota Ilmu, Educity@Iskandar, 79200 Nusajaya, Johor, MalaysiaDepartment of Community Medicine, International Medical University (IMU), No. 126 Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, 57000 Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Community Medicine, International Medical University (IMU), No. 126 Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, 57000 Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaLittle is known about the relationships between adverse health effects and unhealthy behaviors among medical students using Facebook. The aim of this study was to determine the associations between adverse health effects and unhealthy behaviors with Facebook use. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a private university in Malaysia among 316 medical students. A self-administered questionnaire was used. It included questions on sociodemographics, pattern of Facebook use, social relationship, unhealthy behaviors, and health effects. Mean age was 20.5 (±2.7) years. All students had a Facebook account. The average daily Facebook surfing hours were 2.5 (±1.7). Significant associations were found between average hours of Facebook surfing and the following factors: isolation from family members and community, refusing to answer calls, musculoskeletal pain, headache, and eye irritation (P<0.005). The average hours spent on Facebook were significantly associated with holding urination and defecation while online, surfing Facebook until midnight, and postponing, forgetting, or skipping meals (P<0.005). The average hours spent on Facebook were associated with adverse health effects and unhealthy behaviors among medical students, as well as social isolation from the family and community.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/465161
spellingShingle Sami Abdo Radman Al-Dubai
Kurubaran Ganasegeran
Mustafa Ahmed Mahdi Al-Shagga
Hematram Yadav
John T. Arokiasamy
Adverse Health Effects and Unhealthy Behaviors among Medical Students Using Facebook
The Scientific World Journal
title Adverse Health Effects and Unhealthy Behaviors among Medical Students Using Facebook
title_full Adverse Health Effects and Unhealthy Behaviors among Medical Students Using Facebook
title_fullStr Adverse Health Effects and Unhealthy Behaviors among Medical Students Using Facebook
title_full_unstemmed Adverse Health Effects and Unhealthy Behaviors among Medical Students Using Facebook
title_short Adverse Health Effects and Unhealthy Behaviors among Medical Students Using Facebook
title_sort adverse health effects and unhealthy behaviors among medical students using facebook
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/465161
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