The Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, congratulates Dr Shamini Devi a/p Kumaran on successfully completing her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) viva voce examination on 13 October 2026.
Her dissertation, entitled “Association Between Problematic Social Media Use and Academic Performance Among Secondary School Students in Penang,” addresses an emerging public health concern involving adolescent digital well-being, sleep quality, and academic achievement.
Research Highlights
The study examined the association between problematic social media use (PSMU) and academic performance, including the potential mediating role of sleep quality, among secondary school students in Penang.
Using a two-phase quantitative approach, the research involved the validation of study instruments followed by a cross-sectional survey of 927 secondary school students.
The findings revealed that 28.9% of students exhibited problematic social media use. Higher levels of problematic social media use, poorer sleep quality, and increased anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with lower academic performance.
Importantly, the study identified a significant indirect association between problematic social media use and academic performance through sleep quality, highlighting the potential importance of healthy sleep practices in adolescent digital well-being.
These findings provide valuable local evidence to inform school-based health promotion initiatives that encourage responsible social media use, healthy sleep habits, and improved adolescent well-being. While the cross-sectional design does not establish causality, the research contributes to understanding the complex relationships between digital behaviour, sleep health, and academic outcomes.
Acknowledgement and Congratulations
We wish to acknowledge the invaluable guidance and mentorship provided by Shamini Devi’s supervisors, Professor Dr. Mas Ayu Said and Dr. Catherine Thamarai a/p Arumugam, whose expertise and support were instrumental in the completion of her dissertation.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Professor Dr. Yu-Tao Xiang, University of Macau, Macau, as External Examiner, and Professor Dr. Noran Naqiah Mohd Hairi, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Universiti Malaya, as Internal Examiner.
We also thank the Committee of Examiners for their thorough evaluation and insightful feedback, including Professor Dr. Jamunarani a/p S Vadivelu, Chairperson of the viva voce session, and Professor Dr. Victor Hoe, Head of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine.
The Department extends its congratulations to Dr Shamini Devi on this important academic milestone and expresses its appreciation to her supervisors and the examination committee for their guidance and contributions.
We wish her continued success in her professional journey and look forward to her contributions towards advancing adolescent health, digital well-being, and evidence-based public health interventions in Malaysia.
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