Study on the Correlation Between Screen-Time and Mental Health among Private University Students in Shah Alam during Covid-19 Lockdown

Abstract

This study aims to assess the correlation between screen time exposure and mental health during theCovid-19 pandemic lockdown among private university students in Shah Alam. Using a convenientsampling method, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 480 students in a private university inShah Alam using a self-administered online questionnaire. The data were analysed using SPSS software.Analysis was collected from 480 respondents (female 282 and males 198); showing 443 respondents(92.2%) spend more than two hours on screen despite the international guidelines recommending youngpeople limit their recreational screen time to less than 2 hours per day (Babic M J. et al. 2016) and 246respondents (51.2% ) spend more than 9 hours on screen. Among 480 respondents, 62.6 %, 69.4%, and46.5% experienced mild to extremely severe depression, anxiety, and stress. This research found that thereis no association between screen time with depression and stress. However, there is a significantassociation between screen time and anxiety, p-value < 0.05. Post hoc analyses on anxiety revealed thereis no significant difference between the duration of screen exposure. This study has revealed theassociation between screen exposure and anxiety. However, the difference within the duration of theassociation is not significant. Therefore, the current generation needs to be aware of their risk towardanxiety irrespective of screen time exposure.