The evolving role of social media in enhancing quality of life: a global perspective across 10 countries

Marzo RR 1 , Jun Chen HW 2 , Ahmad A 3 , Thew HZ 4 , Choy JS 5 , Ng CH 5 Show all authors , Chew CLA 5 , Heidler P 6 , King I 7 , Shrestha R 8 , Rahman F 9 , Rana JA 10 , Khoshtaria T 11 , Matin A 12 , Todua N 13 , Küçük Biçer B 14 , Faller E 15 , Tudy RA 16 , Baldonado A 17 , Penamante CA 18 , Bahari R 19 , Younus DA 20 , Ismail ZM 21 , Lotfizadeh M 22 , Hassan SM 23 , Iliya RS 24 , Inyang AE 25 , Maung Maung T 26 , Oo WM 27 , Myint O 28 , Khadka A 29 , Acharya S 30 , Aye SS 31 , Naing TW 32 , Win MT 33 , Kyaw YW 34 , Thapa PP 35 , Khanal J 36 , Bhattacharya S 37 , Abid K 38 , Fahlevi M 39 , Aljuaid M 40 , El-Abasir RA 41 , Elsayed MEG 42

Affiliations 

  • 1 Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences, Curtin University, Miri, Malaysia. roy.marzo@curtin.edu.my
  • 2 International Medical School, Management and Science University, Shah Alam, Selangor, 40610, Malaysia
  • 3 College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 834006, India
  • 4 Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 5 Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 6 Institute International Trade and Sustainable Economy, University of Applied Sciences Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria
  • 7 Department of Exercise Physiology, School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
  • 8 Palliative Care and Chronic Disease, Green Pastures Hospital, PO Box 28, Pokhara, Province Gandaki, 33700, Nepal
  • 9 Department of Research & Administration, Bangladesh National Nutrition Council, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • 10 Department of Coordination, National Nutrition Council, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • 11 Faculty of Healthcare Economics and Management, University Geomedi, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 12 School of Business, International Black Sea University, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 13 School of Economics and Business, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 14 Department of Medical Education and Informatics, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
  • 15 Pharmacy Department, School of Allied Health Sciences, San Pedro College, Davao City, Philippines
  • 16 Faculty of the College of Education, University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao City, Philippines
  • 17 College of Nursing, Saint Alexius College, Koronadal City, Philippines
  • 18 Department of Psychology, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
  • 19 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cyberjaya, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
  • 20 Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq
  • 21 Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Technical Health and Medical College, Erbil Polytechnique University, Erbil, Iraq
  • 22 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
  • 23 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
  • 24 Department of Public Health, Distance Learning Centre, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
  • 25 School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
  • 26 Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology, Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia
  • 27 ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand
  • 28 Regional Public Health Department, Ayeyarwady Region, Pathein, Myanmar
  • 29 Department of Public Health Modern Technical College Affiliated to Pokhara University, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • 30 Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, 44600, Nepal
  • 31 Department of Paediatrics, RCSI Program Perdana University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 32 Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cyberjaya, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
  • 33 Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cyberjaya, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
  • 34 Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, SEGi University, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
  • 35 Life Skill Education Institutes/Yeti Health Science Academy, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • 36 Department of Public Health (Purbanchal University), Kathmandu, Nepal
  • 37 Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar, Jharkhand, India
  • 38 Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  • 39 Management Department, BINUS Online Learning, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta, 11480, Indonesia
  • 40 Department of Health Administration, College of Business Administration, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. maljuaid@ksu.edu.sa
  • 41 Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
  • 42 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
Arch Public Health, 2024 Mar 06;82(1):28.
PMID: 38449000 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-023-01222-z

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Excessive or inappropriate use of social media has been linked to disruptions in regular work, well-being, mental health, and overall reduction of quality of life. However, a limited number of studies documenting the impact of social media on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are available globally.

AIM: This study aimed to explore the perceived social media needs and their impact on the quality of life among the adult population of various selected countries.

METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional, quantitative design and analytical study utilized an online survey disseminated from November to December 2021.

RESULTS: A total of 6689 respondents from ten countries participated in the study. The largest number of respondents was from Malaysia (23.9%), followed by Bangladesh (15.5%), Georgia (14.8%), and Turkey (12.2%). The prevalence of social media users was over 90% in Austria, Georgia, Myanmar, Nigeria, and the Philippines. The majority of social media users were from the 18-24 age group. Multiple regression analysis showed that higher education level was positively correlated with all four domains of WHOQoL. In addition, the psychological health domain of quality of life was positively associated in all countries. Predictors among Social Media Needs, Affective Needs (β = -0.07), and Social Integrative Needs (β = 0.09) were significantly associated with psychological health.

CONCLUSION: The study illuminates the positive correlation between higher education levels and improved life quality among social media users, highlighting an opportunity for policymakers to craft education-focused initiatives that enhance well-being. The findings call for strategic interventions to safeguard the mental health of the global social media populace, particularly those at educational and health disadvantages.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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