Abstract

SLEEP, QUALITY, DEPRESSION, AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH DIGITAL BURNOUT AND DOOMSCROLLING AMONG MEDICAL COLLEGE STUDENTS IN CHENNAI: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Suyambu Ananth S., R. Naveen Shyam Sundar*

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Abstract

Background: College students face increasing mental health challenges, with poor sleep, depression, and digital overuse emerging as critical concerns. Patterns of technology engagement—such as digital burnout and doomscrolling—may be more relevant to psychological well-being than total screen time. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of poor sleep quality and depression among college students in Chennai, and to examine their association with screen time, digital burnout, and doomscrolling behavior. Methods: This analytical crosssectional study was conducted among 210 undergraduate students using a structured online questionnaire comprising the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), PHQ-9, and researchbased tools for digital burnout and doomscrolling. Descriptive statistics were computed, and bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using R software. Results: Poor sleep quality (PSQI >5) was present in 68.6% of students, moderateto- severe depression (PHQ-9 ≥10) in 29%, high digital burnout in 51%, and high doomscrolling in 48%. In multivariate logistic regression, poor sleep (aOR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.32–5.29, p = 0.006), high digital burnout (aOR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.10–4.05, p = 0.025), and high doomscrolling (aOR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.01–3.68, p = 0.045) were independent predictors of depression, while screen time >6 hours/day showed a non-significant trend (aOR = 1.78, p= 0.08). Conclusion: Poor sleep quality, digital burnout, and doomscrolling are common among college students and significantly associated with depression. Interventions should target not only reducing screen exposure but also improving the quality of digital engagement and promoting healthy sleep habits.

Keywords: Poor sleep quality, Depression, Digital burnout, Doomscrolling, Screen time, College students.