Prevalence and Factors Influencing Risky Selfie Behaviour among Undergraduate Medical Students at a Tertiary Care Medical College in Western Uttar Pradesh, India: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Abstract
Background: The widespread adoption of smartphone technology and social media platforms has given rise to the global phenomenon of selfie-taking. Risky or compulsive selfie behaviour, operationalised as ‘selfitis,’ poses significant public health concerns, particularly among young adults and health professional students. Despite growing evidence of associated psychological and physical harms, this behaviour remains understudied in the Indian medical student population.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional investigation was carried out among 350 MBBS students at a tertiary care medical college in Western Uttar Pradesh, India. Participants were recruited through stratified proportionate random sampling across all five academic years. Information was obtained using a pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire along with the validated Selfitis Behaviour Scale (SBS). Descriptive statistical methods along with chi-square testing were performed using IBM SPSS version 25.0.
Results: The average age of participants was 22.4 ± 1.8 years, with 58.0% being male. The overall prevalence of selfie-taking was 78.9% (n = 276). Among selfie-takers, 43.8% did so only on special occasions, 38.1% weekly, and 18.1% daily. Of daily takers, 60.0% reported capturing 1–4 selfies per day, while 80.0% did not post selfies on social media daily. According to the Selfitis Behaviour Scale, 53.2% exhibited borderline selfitis, 18.1% acute selfitis, and 11.5% chronic selfitis; significant sex differences were observed in acute and chronic categories (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Selfie-taking is highly prevalent among undergraduate medical students in this region, with a notable proportion demonstrating clinically significant selfitic behaviour. Despite high usage, a culture of selective and moderate social media sharing was observed. Evidence-based digital health literacy programmes are warranted to promote responsible online behaviour and mitigate associated risks.
Keywords: Selfie behaviour; selfitis; medical students; social media; digital health literacy; cross-sectional study
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