Currently submitted to: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Feb 17, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Feb 18, 2026 - Apr 15, 2026
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Impact of Digital Detox Awareness and Practices on Health Profession Students’ Mental Wellbeing, Physical Health, and Academic Performance: A Cross-Sectional Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Health profession education students exhibit a higher rate of excessive digital technology use compared to their peers. Although the interaction of technology with student well-being has become more pronounced, the lack of awareness about digital detox among students in technology-intensive healthcare disciplines, along with the scarcity of studies exploring their practices, is concerning.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the patterns of social media usage and potential relationships between digital detox practices, mental well-being, physical health, and academic performance.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey design was employed at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) in Riyadh. The sample consisted of 471 students from the health professions. Validated surveys were used, including the Social Media Disorder Scale, Digital Detoxification Awareness Questions, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-6), and physical health assessments. The relationships between the study variables were analyzed using the chi-square test and ANOVA, with a significance level of 0.05.
Results:
A total of 471 students were included, with the majority being female (n = 291, 61.8%), single (n = 440, 93.4%), and aged between 18 and 37 years (M = 21.62, SD = 2.30). Participants reported an average daily social media usage of 7.07 ± 4.11 hours, with 31.6% of the sample classified as problematic users. Digital detox awareness was 59.7%, and 58.6% reported having experienced a digital detox. The most common strategies reported were avoiding phone use (69.1%) and muting notifications (70.3%). Participants reported eye strain (59.0%), neck pain (56.7%), and back pain (49.7%) due to the use of smartphones. Significant associations were found between social media use, gender, college affiliation, awareness of digital detox, level of physical activity, and sleep patterns (p < 0.005). A positive correlation was found between GPA and digital detoxification (p = 0.01). Social media use was significantly associated with the mental well-being of the participants (F = 214.096, p < 0.001) and with their academic performance (p = 0.04)
Conclusions:
The relationships between digital behavior, physical health, mental well-being, and academic performance of health profession students are complex and intertwined. The practice of digital detox, as observed, offers improvements in various aspects of students' lives; therefore, incorporating digital wellness strategies into the curriculum is vital for preparing students as professionals and enhancing student outcomes. Clinical Trial: NRR24/007/11
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