Association of Short-Form Video Use With Attention Control and Sleep Quality Among Medical Students: A...

The growing popularity of short-form videos (SFVs) on platforms like Instagram (Meta Platforms, Inc., Menlo Park, California, USA) and TikTok (ByteDance Ltd, Beijing, China) has raised concerns regarding their potential association with attention and sleep. Due to their fast-paced and highly stimulating characteristics, SFVs may influence attentional processes and sleep patterns. This study aimed to assess the association between short-form video use, attention control and sleep quality among medical students.

To determine the extent of short-form video usage and examine the association of usage frequency and viewing duration with attention control and sleep quality among medical students.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2025 among 342 medical students using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a pre-designed, self-administered questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, short-form video (SFV) usage patterns, attention control (using the Attention Control Scale), and sleep quality (using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were applied to assess associations.

Among the 342 medical students, 268 (78.4%) reported watching short-form videos daily, with 179 (52.3%) reporting more than one hour of daily use. A significant association was observed between higher frequency of app opening and lower attention control (χ²(6) = 43.955, p < 0.001, Cramer's V = 0.25). Viewing duration was not significantly associated with attention control (χ²(6) = 6.036, p = 0.419, Cramer's V = 0.09). Longer daily viewing duration was significantly associated with poor sleep quality (χ²(3) = 8.403, p = 0.038, Cramer's V = 0.16), whereas frequency of app opening was not significantly associated with sleep quality (χ²(3) = 7.645, p = 0.054, Cramer's V = 0.15).

Increased duration of short-form video viewing was associated with poorer sleep quality, while higher frequency of app opening was associated with lower attention control among medical students. These findings suggest possible associations between short-form video use with attention control and sleep quality, highlighting the need for further longitudinal studies to better understand these associations and inform strategies promoting digital hygiene and responsible media use.