Facebook Addiction and Its Relationship with Mental Health among Thai High School Students
Nitt Hanprathet MSc*,**, Mereerat Manwong MPh*,***, Jiraporn Khumsri MSc*,****, Rungmanee Yingyeun MSc*,*****, Muthita Phanasathit MD, FPCPsychT*,******
Affiliation : * Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Health Education, Faculty of Physical Education, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand *** College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand **** Nopparatratchathanee Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand ***** Prasrimahabhodi Psychiatric Hospital, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand ****** Center of Excellence of Applied Epidemiology, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
Objective : To investigate the relationship between Facebook addiction and mental health among high school students.
Material and Method: This cross-sectional analytic study was performed among 972 high school students from four
provinces associated with high economic prosperity in Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani and Songkhla,
utilizing a multistage cluster sampling technique. Facebook addiction was assessed using the Thai version of the Bergen-
Facebook Addiction Scale (Thai-BFAS), while a Thai version of the General Health Questionnaire (Thai GHQ-28) was used
for mental health evaluation. The relationship between Facebook addiction and mental health was analyzed through multiple
logistic regressions.
Results : The prevalence of Facebook addiction and abnormal mental health were 41.9% (95% CI; 38.6, 45.2), and 21.9%
(95% CI; 19.2, 24.8), respectively. After adjustment for confounding factors (sufficiency of household income, school location,
level of education, GPAX, learning deficits and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), the individuals identified as having
Facebook addiction were discovered to be at a high risk of developing abnormal general mental health (ORadj = 1.7, 95% CI:
1.1, 2.4), somatic symptoms (ORadj = 1.2, 95% CI: 0.9, 1.7), anxiety and insomnia (ORadj = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.9, 1.8), social
dysfunction (ORadj = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.1) and severe depression (ORadj = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.2). Moreover, there were
pronounced trends of increasing risk according to the level of Facebook addiction (Ptrend<0.05).
Conclusion : It was found that Facebook addiction among high school students could be associated with abnormal, general
mental health status, somatic symptoms, anxiety & insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression. Therefore, it is
essential that the relevant authorities educate young people about the mental health impacts linked with Facebook addictive
usage and impose appropriate public health policies by screening Facebook addiction and mental health issues in risk
groups.
Keywords : Facebook addiction, Mental health, High school students
