Introduction:

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, digital platforms were used for teaching and learning; during the post-pandemic period, continued use of social networks (SN) possibly occurred, affecting academic performance.

Objectives:

to evaluate the association of academic performance with factors such as SN use, sociodemographic aspects, non-academic activities, eating practices, personal motivation and fatigue in students from 10th to 12th grade (high school) at the Defensores del Chaco School (Luque-Central).

Materials and Methods:

this was a cross-sectional, correlational and descriptive study carried out during the first semester of 2023 with a probabilistic sample of 175 healthy students of both sexes. For the use of SN and other data, a self-applied digital survey was used with prior informed consent. For academic performance, the grade in Language and Literature was used.

Results:

Average age was 16±0.9 years. 47.4% (n=83) were women; 98.9% (n=173) used SN. 72% used Instagram®, 71.4% used WhatsApp®, 56.6% TikTok, 13.1% Facebook and 8.6% Twitter. 100% used a mobile phone for SN. The grade point average was 3.6±1.3; 34.9% (n=61) obtained a grade of 5 (highest), 22.9%(n=40) 4, 12%(n=21) 3; 24%(n=42) 2 and 6.3%(n=11) obtained a 1 (lowest). 40.6%(n=71) used SN 1-3 hours/day, 26.3%(n=46) 4- 6 hours/day, 20.6%(n=36) ≥7 hours/day, 12.6%(n=22) <1 hour/day; with no differences in grades observed according to SN time usage (Kruskall-Wallis; p=0.64). 3.2±1.3SD was the average grade for boys and 3.9±1.3 SD for girls (Student’ T, p=0.002). No differences in grades between those who do not work and those who do (3.6±1.3SD vs 3.1±1.4SD; Student p=0.05) were observed. As for other recreational activities, 43.4% (n=76) performed household chores, 20% (n=70) physical activity (gym/sports), 1 student reading, with no difference in grades according to physical activity (Student p=0, 42). 64% (n=112) did not meet recommendations for amount/day of meals, 36% (n=63) did, with no differences in grades (p=0.05) observed according to amount/day of meals nor according to motivation (ANOVA p=0.11). 2 (1.1%) reported not being fatigued in the classroom.

Conclusions:

There were no differences in academic performance according to SN usage time, work, motivation, frequency of eating or physical activity. Girls had a better academic performance than boys.

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