Problematic Social Media Use and Depression among Addis Ababa University Regular Undergraduate Students: Institutional based Cross Sectional Study

Background Problematic social media use (PSMU) and its potential link to depression among university students have become significant areas of concern. This study aims to explore the prevalence of PSMU and its relationship with depression symptoms and identify demographic factors associated with level of depression among undergraduate students at Addis Ababa University's main campus. Methods An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 316 students using a stratified random sampling method from March to April 2024. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires, including the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were employed to analyze the data. Results The study found that 17.1% of the respondents exhibited problematic social media use. Additionally, the prevalence of depression was found to be 77 (24.3%:95% CI :19.7-29.5) with 4.4% of the participant found to have severe depression. The odds of depression are 1.6 times higher in those compared to non-problematic social media users (AOR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.4-1.8; p < 0.0001). Moreover, individuals who frequently use social media to watch pornography have a 14 times greater likelihood of experiencing depression compared to those who do not watch pornography at all. Compared to men, female students report greater levels of depression. Conclusions The findings indicate a high prevalence of PSMU among undergraduate students at Addis Ababa University and a significant association with depression symptoms. These results highlight the need for targeted interventions to address PSMU and its mental health implications among university students.