UWEC CERCA 2026

Smartphones and social media are ubiquitous in the lives of college students, offering valuable opportunities for connection while also presenting potential challenges to their well-being. Because social media plays a central role in students' experiences, understanding its impact is essential for promoting healthier habits and supportive campus environments. In this study, we examine how college students' social media behaviors relate to several key aspects of well-being, including sleep quality, burnout, empathy, loneliness, perceived body-image pressures, anxiety, and depression. Using an online survey, we explore the associations between UWEC students' social media use and these indicators of well-being. We hypothesize that higher levels of social media use will be associated with greater anxiety, depression, burnout, loneliness, and perceived appearance-related pressures, along with lower empathy and decreased sleep quality. Ultimately, this study aims to deepen our understanding of the many factors shaping college students’ well-being in a digital era dominated by smartphones and social media.