Associations Between Smartphone and Social Media Use and Mental Well-Being Among Adults in Saudi Arabia: A...

Background Smartphone and social media use have become integral components of modern life; however, concerns have increased regarding their potential influence on psychological well-being. Although excessive digital media use has been associated with depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, evidence regarding its relationship with positive mental well-being remains limited, particularly in populations with high levels of smartphone and social media engagement. We aimed to evaluate the association between smartphone use, social media behaviors, and mental well-being among adults in Saudi Arabia. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adults aged 18 years or older residing in Saudi Arabia between January and March 2026. Participants completed an anonymous electronic questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, smartphone and social media behaviors, lifestyle factors, and mental well-being. The primary outcome was mental well-being measured using the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), analyzed both as a continuous score and as poor mental well-being (WHO-5 score <50). Associations between digital media behaviors and mental well-being were assessed using analysis of variance, correlation analyses, and multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for demographic and lifestyle factors. Results A total of 1,248 participants were included in the analysis. The mean (±SD) age was 30.8±9.4 years, and 691 participants (55.4%) were women. The median daily smartphone use was 5.8 hours (interquartile range, 3.9-8.2), and 447 participants (35.8%) reported ≥5 hours of daily social media use. Mean WHO-5 scores declined progressively with increasing smartphone use, from 72.4±15.3 among participants using smartphones for <2 hours/day to 50.8±19.6 among those using smartphones for >8 hours/day (P<0.001). The prevalence of poor mental well-being increased from 13 of 106 participants (12.3%) in the <2 hours/day group to 125 of 254 participants (49.2%) in the >8 hours/day group (P<0.001). After multivariable adjustment, smartphone use >6 hours/day was associated with higher odds of poor mental well-being (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 2.41; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.77-3.28). Additional independent associations were observed for social media use ≥5 hours/day (adjusted OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.48-2.84), frequent social comparison on social media (adjusted OR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.73-3.20), and smartphone use before bedtime (adjusted OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.18-2.42). Regular physical activity was associated with lower odds of poor mental well-being (adjusted OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53-0.95). Problematic smartphone behavior demonstrated the strongest inverse correlation with WHO-5 scores (r=-0.56, P<0.001). Conclusions Among adults in Saudi Arabia, greater smartphone and social media engagement were associated with poorer mental well-being, with a graded relationship observed between increasing smartphone use and declining WHO-5 scores. Problematic smartphone behaviors, social comparison, and bedtime smartphone use emerged as important behavioral correlates of reduced well-being, whereas physical activity was associated with more favorable psychological outcomes. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causal relationships and determine whether interventions targeting digital media habits can improve mental well-being.