Behavioural intentions to limit social media use among nursing students in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional theory of planned behaviour and structural equation modelling study.
- 1Community and Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- 2Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- 3School of Archaeology and Anthropology, College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Abstract
Background
Social media addiction (SMA) carries professional risks for nursing students, yet determinants of their intention to limit social media use are poorly characterised. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), this study examined how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control relate to this intention in Saudi nursing students.Methods
A cross-sectional survey of 258 nursing students (response rate 91.5%), recruited by stratified random sampling from nursing colleges in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was conducted in April-May 2026. Participants completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and a 17-item TPB questionnaire. Analyses comprised confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), hierarchical regression, and structural equation modelling (SEM).Results
In total, 48.4% scored at or above the BSMAS threshold for probable SMA, and perceived behavioural control scored lowest (2.62/5). The four-factor CFA fitted well (CFI = 0.984; RMSEA = 0.029). The final regression model explained 41.2% of variance in intention, with perceived behavioural control the largest standardised predictor (β = 0.43), followed by attitudes (β = 0.22) and subjective norms (β = 0.13). In SEM, perceived behavioural control (β = 0.57) and attitudes (β = 0.28) were associated with intention; subjective norms were associated with attitudes (β = 0.57) but not directly with intention.Conclusion
Perceived behavioural control was the least strongly held TPB antecedent but the most strongly associated with intention. As the design was cross-sectional and measured only intention, these associations identify candidate targets for nursing education interventions, not causes of behaviour change. Longitudinal studies measuring actual use are needed.
Related
- Pathways linking to behavioural and biological risk factors on diabetes and overweight/obese among adults in urban slums from Western India: a structural equation modelling analysis
- Cognitive-Affective Factors Associated with Psychological Distress in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Structural Equation Modelling Study
- Beyond Average Behaviour: Trust and Reciprocity Dynamics Reveal Distinct Behavioural Phenotypes
- Predictors of Intentions to Learn and Adopt Medical Artificial Intelligence Among Healthcare Professionals in Ghana: A Descriptive Cross‐Sectional Study
- Genetic and behavioural architecture of childhood eating behaviour and links to obesity risk
BibTeX
@article{almutairi2026behavioural,
title = {{Behavioural intentions to limit social media use among nursing students in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional theory of planned behaviour and structural equation modelling study.}},
author = {Asrar S Almutairi and Rayhanah R Almutairi and Abdulaziz M Alodhailah and Hend N Almutairi and Waleed M Alshehri and Mohammed Almutairi},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1958042},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898468},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Behavioural intentions to limit social media use among nursing students in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional theory of planned behaviour and structural equation modelling study.
AU - Asrar S Almutairi
AU - Rayhanah R Almutairi
AU - Abdulaziz M Alodhailah
AU - Hend N Almutairi
AU - Waleed M Alshehri
AU - Mohammed Almutairi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - Frontiers in public health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1958042
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898468
AB - Background Social media addiction (SMA) carries professional risks for nursing students, yet determinants of their intention to limit social media use are poorly characterised. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), this study examined how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control relate to this intention in Saudi nursing students.Methods A cross-sectional survey of 258 nursing students (response rate 91.5%), recruited by stratified random sampling from nursing colleges in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was conducted in April-May 2026. Participants completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and a 17-item TPB questionnaire. Analyses comprised confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), hierarchical regression, and structural equation modelling (SEM).Results In total, 48.4% scored at or above the BSMAS threshold for probable SMA, and perceived behavioural control scored lowest (2.62/5). The four-factor CFA fitted well (CFI = 0.984; RMSEA = 0.029). The final regression model explained 41.2% of variance in intention, with perceived behavioural control the largest standardised predictor (β = 0.43), followed by attitudes (β = 0.22) and subjective norms (β = 0.13). In SEM, perceived behavioural control (β = 0.57) and attitudes (β = 0.28) were associated with intention; subjective norms were associated with attitudes (β = 0.57) but not directly with intention.Conclusion Perceived behavioural control was the least strongly held TPB antecedent but the most strongly associated with intention. As the design was cross-sectional and measured only intention, these associations identify candidate targets for nursing education interventions, not causes of behaviour change. Longitudinal studies measuring actual use are needed.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -