The Influence of Social Media on Sleep Quality: A Study of Undergraduate Students in Chongqing, China

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to identify the influence of using social media on the sleep quality of undergraduate students in Chongqing, China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on undergraduate students in Chongqing, China. A multistage stratified sampling was adopted. The study population was composed of 1,444 (72.97%) females and 535 (27.03%) males. Results: More than half of undergraduates who used social networking service websites (66.25%), Fetion (82.68%) microblogs (66.43%), QQ (66.38%), WeChat (63.56%), post bars (62.89%), forums (58.70%), SNS website (37.30) and blogs (27.00%) reported poor sleep quality. We found respondents who were from university of foreign languages or used WeChat were less likely to have poor sleep quality. Further, undergraduates who spent 0.5 to 2 hours before bedtime or above per day on social media were more likely to have poor sleep quality. Conclusions: More than half of undergraduates who use social media experience poor sleep quality. Undergraduates at University of Foreign languages may be less likely to experience poor sleep quality. Using WeChat may be less likely to experience poor sleep quality.