Social networks and their mediating effect on school achievement, enjoyment and anxiety in secondary school students

Abstract

This research explored the mediating role of social media use in the relationship between perceived usefulness and ease of use and enjoyment, anxiety, and academic performance among secondary school students in Arequipa, Peru. Employing a non-experimental, cross-sectional design and based on administering a questionnaire with high reliability (Cronbach's alpha of 0.90 and McDonald's ω of 0.91), the study involved 216 students. The study's most significant finding is that perceived usefulness and ease of use have a direct positive impact on the enjoyment of social media, underscoring the importance of designing platforms that are both appealing and accessible to students. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, the use of social media did not significantly mediate anxiety or academic performance, suggesting that these platforms, although beneficial for enjoyment, do not directly influence these latter aspects. This crucial finding points to the need for further investigation into other factors that may influence academic performance and anxiety in the context of digital technology use.