Social media addiction and poor sleep quality are closely linked among young Bangladeshi high school graduates, a new study published in the journal Nature and Science of Sleep sheds new light on the relationship between young people’s mental health, digital habits, and sleep.

Researchers from Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Chinta Research Bangladesh, South Asia University, Jahangirnagar University, and Princess Noora Binte Abdur Rahman University reached this conclusion after analyzing data from 1,139 students preparing for university admission.

The study found that the higher the level of social media addiction, the worse the quality of sleep. The study identified two symptoms of addiction—relapse or repeated waking up and falling back asleep—and “difficulty in daytime functioning”—as the main links between excessive social media use and sleep problems.

The study also found significant gender differences. Female participants were more likely to report poor sleep quality due to social media addiction. Male students, on the other hand, had higher rates of addiction overall, suggesting that excessive social media use affects men and women differently.

In network analysis, researchers identified some ‘common symptoms’ that form the bridge between social media usage behavior and sleep health. These are ‘mood modification’, ‘sleep latency’, and ‘impaired daytime functioning.’

“The results clearly show that sleep status and social media behavior are deeply interdependent,” said David Gozal, MD, associate dean of the Department of Health and Human Services at Marshall University and dean of the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. “Targeted interventions are now urgently needed to ensure healthy digital habits and adequate sleep among young people.”

This research adds to the growing scientific debate about the impact of social media, while also highlighting the need for awareness, prevention initiatives, and gender-sensitive strategies, considering its long-term impact on mental and physical well-being.