Always Online, Always Tired: A Quantitative Study on Doomscrolling and College Students' Well-Being at Bulacan State University

Abstract

In this technological era, social media has become an indispensable segment of Generation Z students' day-to-day activities. With the rapid development of smartphones and the internet, social media is no longer just a source of entertainment; it has become a new way for individuals to connect, learn, and stay updated. This study focuses on the prevalence of doomscrolling and its relationship to the overall well-being of college students at Bulacan State University. The researchers of this paper intended to determine how doomscrolling influences the overall well-being of college students. The researchers surveyed 70 students, with informed consent, across several colleges, assessing doomscrolling habits and physical, mental, emotional, and academic health, which reveals significant findings: 78% of the respondents are heavy internet users spending at least 5 hours or more online daily. Findings further revealed a very high level of distress across physical health with a weighted mean of 4.35, mental health with a weighted mean of 4.29, emotional health with a weighted mean of 4.29, and academic well-being with a weighted mean of 4.33, suggesting sleep disruption, mental exhaustion, reduced focus, and decreased productivity. Correlational analysis revealed a positive moderate relationship between doomscrolling and overall well-being distress (r = 0.536). This indicates that doomscrolling is related to a greater negative impact on students' comprehensive health. To cope and manage its effects, students commonly reported using strict app timers or limits, a no-phone zone, and leaving devices in a different room while sleeping or studying. Overall, the study highlights doomscrolling as a digital behaviour that significantly affects the overall well-being of the students and emphasizes the importance of self-regulation, awareness, and a wellness approach to promote healthier online habits.