Association Between Short-Form Video Screen Time and ADHD-Like Symptoms among College Students in Dhaka: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background The use of short-form videos such as Reels and Shorts has increased rapidly among students. There is growing concern that excessive screen exposure may affect attention span and executive function, especially in individuals who are more prone to ADHD-related symptoms. Objective To examine the relationship between daily short-form video screen time and ADHD-like symptoms among college students in Dhaka. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 305 students aged 14–21 years from selected colleges in Dhaka. ADHD-related symptoms were assessed using the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1). Participants reported their average daily time spent watching short-form videos. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation methods. Results The majority of participants (63%) reported spending 2–4 hours per day on short-form videos. Overall, 43.3% screened positive for ADHD-like symptoms. A clear trend was observed, where higher screen time was associated with a higher proportion of positive ADHD screening, increasing from about 15% in the less-than-1-hour group to more than 60% in the more-than-4-hours group. Conclusion Higher consumption of short-form videos was associated with increased ADHD-like symptoms among students. Although causation cannot be established, excessive screen exposure may negatively influence attention and executive functioning. Encouraging balanced digital habits may help improve focus and cognitive performance in students.