Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare (Jul 2024)

The Impact of Social Media in Afghanistan: A Multi-Disciplinary Study

  • Ehsan H,
  • Ramakee AW,
  • Barakati T,
  • Yosufi A,
  • Azimi S,
  • Aminpoor H,
  • Eshraqi AM,
  • Kamal F,
  • Ghazanfari F,
  • Ibrahimkhil MA,
  • Nikyar ME,
  • Karimi AS

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 17
pp. 3121 – 3139

Abstract

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Hedayatullah Ehsan,1,2 Abdul Wakil Ramakee,1 Tamana Barakati,3 Abubakr Yosufi,4 Shamila Azimi,2 Hasibullah Aminpoor,2 Ali Maisam Eshraqi,5 Fariha Kamal,6 Farahnaz Ghazanfari,5 Munir Ahmad Ibrahimkhil,1 Mohammad Edriss Nikyar,7 Ali Sina Karimi1 1Medical Sciences Research Center, Ghalib University, Kabul, Afghanistan; 2Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan; 3Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK; 4Medical School, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan; 5Department of Endodontics, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan; 6Department of Oral Medicine, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan; 7Faculty of Stomatology, Spinghar Institute of Higher Education, Kabul, AfghanistanCorrespondence: Hedayatullah Ehsan, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Medical Sciences Research Center, Ghalib University, Khushal Khan Mina, Kabul, 1010, Afghanistan, Tel +93775816022, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: The rapid growth of social media has profoundly transformed communication, community building, and information sharing worldwide. In Afghanistan, the proliferation of social media platforms has significantly impacted the social, cultural, and political landscape, particularly among the youth.Objective: This multi-disciplinary study aims to explore the diverse effects of social media on Afghan youth, focusing on usage patterns, mental health implications, entertainment-driven time allocation, financial expenditures, exposure to explicit content, and academic performance.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between September and December 2023, gathering responses from 1556 participants (67% males, 33% females) through various social media platforms. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, employing statistical tests such as ANOVA and Chi-Square to examine relationships between social media usage and its impacts.Results: The study reveals significant links between social media usage and demographic, behavioral, and mental health factors. Key findings include Facebook as the most used platform (83.6%), with the majority of participants spending 1– 3 hours daily on social media. Age differences in time spent were significant (F=15.64, p< 0.001). Entertainment was the primary use (45.5%), with gender differences in engagement levels. High anxiety (78.5%) and moderate depression (38.3%) were reported. Significant associations between social media use and mental health were found (eg, χ 2=591.87, p< 0.001 for nervousness). Excessive use negatively impacted study habits, with 25.7% feeling it hindered their academic performance.Conclusion: This study highlights the multifaceted impacts of social media on Afghan youth, including both positive aspects like enhanced communication and empowerment and negative aspects such as mental health issues and academic challenges. The significant relationships between social media usage and various life aspects underscore the need for targeted interventions to promote healthy digital habits and mitigate adverse effects. Further research is recommended to explore long-term impacts and effective strategies for managing social media use among Afghan youth.Keywords: social media, Afghan, mental health, time, money, relationship, study, Facebook

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