Relationship Between Academic Engagement and Social Media Addiction in Ecuadorian University Students

Abstract

The overuse of social media is a multidimensional phenomenon with the capacity to influence the academic environment. Thus, this study aimed to establish the relationship between social media addiction and academic engagement in university students. The research employed a quantitative approach, a non-experimental design, a correlational scope, and a cross-sectional analysis. The population comprised 1200 students (65.3% female) with an average age of 21.4 years from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the National University of Chimborazo, in Riobamba, Ecuador, during the first academic term of 2023. Data were collected using the Utrecht Academic Engagement Scale and the Social Media Addiction Questionnaire. A total of 95.8% of participants had sufficient academic engagement, and 93.7% had a medium level of social media addiction. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.01) negative correlation between the variables of academic engagement and social media addiction (including their respective dimensions), with a mild-to-moderate intensity, as indicated by Pearson r values ranging from −0.101 to −0.297. Significant associations were found between the social media used by participants and their connection frequency, and significant associations were also found between their primary use of social media and the main reason perceived by participants for controlling their use.