Social media use and attentional performance in medical students: an objective cognitive assessment study

Torales J.; López N.; O´higgins M.; Caycho-Rodríguez T.; Castaldelli-Maia J.M.; Ventriglio A.; Barrios I. · Revista del Nacional (Itaugua) (2025) · DOI: 10.18004/rdn2025.e1700123

Resumen

Introduction:intensive social media use has been associated with attentional and sleep alterations in young adults; however, evidence based on objective in-person assessments in Latin America remains limited. Objective:to analyze the relationship between daily social media use time and attentional performance in medical students using objective cognitive tests. Methodology:an observational, cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 73 students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of Asunción. Participants completed a sociodemographic and digital habits questionnaire and underwent three cognitive tests: theMackworth Vigilance Task (sustained attention), the Treisman and Gelade Visual Search Task (selective attention), and the Eriksen Flanker Task (inhibitory control). Descriptive and non-parametric inferential analyses were performed. Results:mean daily social media use was 3.77 ± 1.02 h and nocturnal sleep duration was 5.33 ± 0.64 h. Normal sustained attention was found in 90.4% of participants, whereas 76.7% exhibited impaired selective attention. No correlation was observed between social media use time and Mackworth performance (r=0.154; p=0.194). Age and sleep duration were negatively associated with attentional performance. Conclusions:social media use time was not directly associated with sustained attention, suggesting indirect effects mediated by sleep reduction and cognitive fatigue.

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Sur