Effects of social media usage on university students’ academic performance, social skills and sleep quality

Abstract

Social media has become deeply embedded in students’ daily lives, offering platforms for communication, information sharing, and academic collaboration. However, its excessive or unregulated use raises concerns about its impact on students’ academic performance, social skill development, and sleep quality. This study examined primarily, the influence of social media usage on academic performance (measured by Grade Point Average [GPA]), social skills, and sleep quality among students at all levels of the University of Education, Winneba. Employing a concurrent mixedmethods design, the study collected data from 282 students using structured questionnaires and open-ended qualitative questions. Quantitative data were analysed using multiple regression and Pearson’s correlation, while qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis. The findings revealed that social media usage, social skills, and sleep quality were significant predictors of GPA. Specifically, excessive social media usage negatively affected academic performance, while higher social skills and better sleep quality positively predicted GPA. Additionally, the purpose of social media usage significantly influenced social skill outcomes. Academic-oriented use was positively associated with initiating conversations, empathy, and preference for face-toface interaction, while entertainment and stress-relief usage were negatively correlated with these dimensions. Sleep duration was also significantly affected by social media habits, with notification frequency, compulsive checking, and night-time feed browsing all reducing sleep hours of the respondents. In conclusion, the study highlights that the purpose and patterns of social media use rather than frequency alone, are critical in shaping students’ academic outcomes, social skill, and sleep health. The study recommends digital literacy initiatives, social-emotional learning integration, and campus-wide sleep hygiene programs to promote balanced and purposeful social media use.