Abstract:
Although maintaining good mental health is essential for the academic success of
students, necessary health resources are limited in most universities. Due to the
advancement of digital technology, many students heavily rely on digital devices for
their academic activities. Information and communication technology (ICT) usage
can have both positive and negative impacts on the mental health of undergraduates.
Literature shows that there is an increasing trend of mental health-related issues
among adolescents, especially university undergraduates, in recent decades due to the
ICT-based education system. On the other hand, studies that explore this topic were
limited, given the reluctance shown by individuals to discuss their mental health.
Most universities conduct psychoeducational programmes to improve student mental
health. This study aims to investigate the impact of the use of information technology
on undergraduates’ mental health for a better understanding of this relationship.
Technology use, social media usage, digital dependency, awareness, and supporting
systems were chosen as independent variables, and undergraduates' mental health was
chosen as the dependent variable. Primary data were collected from a total of 367
undergraduates from Rajarata University of Sri Lanka using a pre-tested, structured
questionnaire using convenient sampling techniques, and questions were evaluated
using a five-point Likert scale. Data were analysed using SPSS Ver. 21. The results
revealed that there is a significant negative relationship between the mental health
status of the students and the use of technology, engagement in social media, and
addiction to digital media. There is a positive association between the magnitude of
these factors and the outcomes of mental well-being. In addressing this issue, the
researchers articulate that universities should help in promoting digital literacy and
balance in technology use with the aim of fostering undergraduates' well-being.
Further research is recommended to validate and generalise the findings in different
contexts.
