Social media use and academic performance among nursing students in Morocco - A cross-sectional study

Q: What is the study purpose regarding social media and academic performance?

The study investigates how excessive social media use relates to academic performance among Moroccan nursing students and identifies factors associated with achievement related to daily engagement, considering personal and contextual variables.

Q: How was daily social media use measured in the study?

Daily social media use was measured using smartphone screen-time tracking, alongside a self-administered questionnaire for academic performance.

Q: What does the study conclude about the effect of excessive social media use?

Excessive social media use shows a slight negative association with academic performance, but the effect depends on other behavioral and contextual factors, leading to recommendations for digital self-regulation and time management interventions.

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by River Wang

This study examines the relationship between excessive social media use and academic performance among Moroccan nursing students, aiming to identify factors tied to academic achievement through daily social media engagement while controlling personal and contextual variables. A quantitative cross-sectional design analyzes 524 students recruited via probabilistic cluster sampling, using a self-administered questionnaire. Smartphone screen time tracks daily social media use, and analyses include correlations and regression modeling with assumption checks.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Pedagogical Research 2026, 11 (1), em0258 e-ISSN: 2468-4929 [https://www.pedagogicalresearch.com](https://www.pedagogicalresearch.com) Research Article OPEN ACCESS | Social media use and academic performance among nursing students in Morocco: A cross-sectional study
Yacine Taoufiq 1* , Aziz Naciri 1 , Jihad Laghizi 1 , Ahmed Warghad 1 , Mustapha Jebbour 1
1 Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques, Laâyoune, MOROCCO
*[Corresponding Author:](Corresponding Author: yacinetaoufiqytb@gmail.com)[ yacinetaoufiqytb@gmail.com](Corresponding Author: yacinetaoufiqytb@gmail.com)
Citation: Taoufiq, Y., Naciri, A., Laghizi, J., Warghad, A., & Jebbour, M. (2026) . Social media use and academic performance among nursing
students in Morocco: A cross-sectional study. Pedagogical Research, 11(1), em0258. [https://doi.org/10.29333/pr/18124](https://doi.org/10.29333/pr/18124) | | | --- | --- | | ARTICLE INFO
Received: 02 Dec. 2025
Accepted: 21 Feb. 2026 | ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between excessive social media use and academic performance among Moroccan nursing students. It seeks to identify the factors associated with academic achievement in relation to daily social media engagement, while accounting for personal and contextual variables.
Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional design was conducted. A total of 524 nursing students were recruited through probabilistic cluster sampling. Academic performance was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Daily social media use was measured via smartphone screen-time tracking. Additional covariates included study hours, absenteeism, remedial sessions, overall smartphone use, academic engagement, selfefficacy, and educational use of social media. Spearman’s rank correlation, simple linear regression, and multiple regression analyses were conducted. Model assumptions were verified before analysis.
Results: A weak but statistically significant negative correlation was observed between social media use and academic performance (r = - .12, p = .027) . Positive predictors of academic performance included proactive study planning, academic engagement, and perceived self-efficacy, whereas absenteeism, remedial sessions, distractive use of social media, and total smartphone time were negative predictors. Sleep duration, parental support, and educational social media use were not significant. The simple regression model explains 1.1% of variance (p =.020), while the multiple regression model explains 26.6%(p < .001) .
Conclusion: Excessive social media use slightly reduces academic performance; however, its effect depends on other behavioral and contextual factors. Interventions promoting digital self-regulation and time management skills are recommended. Future longitudinal and mixed-method studies are needed to establish causality and guide educational policies.
Keywords: excessive social media use, digital behavior, academic performance, nursing students, Morocco | INTRODUCTION During the first two decades of the 21st century, the use of technologies has witnessed a remarkable surge (Alam et al., 2025) . The manipulation of technology has become a global trend (Travkina, 2022) . The United Nations (UN) recognizes technology as having a dual role: a driver of peace and sustainable development, but also a potential source of risks to privacy and security (UN, 2020) . The last decade has witnessed a proliferation of research on the rapid emergence of digital technologies and their dual influence on various aspects of human life. This expansion of literature parallels the perpetual evolution and diversification of the technological tools themselves, whose impact consequently remains a dynamic phenomenon. Research is increasingly focusing on the smartphone, a tool that is now predominantly used and ubiquitous among young adults (18-24 years old) (Pew Research Center, 2025) . In France, the owner

FAQs

What is the study purpose regarding social media and academic performance?

The study investigates how excessive social media use relates to academic performance among Moroccan nursing students and identifies factors associated with achievement related to daily engagement, considering personal and contextual variables.

How was daily social media use measured in the study?

Daily social media use was measured using smartphone screen-time tracking, alongside a self-administered questionnaire for academic performance.

What does the study conclude about the effect of excessive social media use?

Excessive social media use shows a slight negative association with academic performance, but the effect depends on other behavioral and contextual factors, leading to recommendations for digital self-regulation and time management interventions.

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by River Wang