Assessment of the psychological status and problem analysis of college students in the information age

Social media has significantly impacted college students’ lifestyles and learning environments, leading to increased stress and anxiety, despite growing awareness and inadequate access to mental health resources. In this study, a C-SA with 147 college students aged 18–26 was conducted to evaluate the mental health and psychological challenges faced by college students. The survey data is collected through self-assessment surveys, providing insights into the prevalence and factors associated with problematic smartphone and SM use and their impact on psychological well-being. It aims to analyze how modern information age factors contribute to students’ psychological issues and overall mental health. This study utilized the Excessive Smartphone Usage (ESU) Scale to measure problematic behaviors related to smartphones, while the Excessive Social Media Engagement (ESME) Scale assesses the degree of problematic behavior associated with SM use. Anxiety (Ax) and depression (Dp) scales measure levels of Ax and Dp among students. HR and correlation analysis examine the relationships between these factors and predictor variables. The study found that high levels of ESU and ESME were significantly correlated with increased anxiety and depression among college students. HR analysis revealed that lower age, poor sleep physical exercise quality, and high SM use were significant predictors of ESU and ESME and had significant positive correlations with Ax and Dp levels, with lower age and poorer sleep and physical exercise quality being associated with higher ESU and ESME scores.