Effects of Text Messaging on College Students' Perceptions of Personal Health

Four focus groups of undergraduate students (n = 32) were conducted to elicit perceptions regarding how text messaging affects personal health. Participant responses were coded and themed into five health dimensions: physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual. Results of focus groups showed several main themes linked each dimension of health, except for spiritual health. Emergent themes regarding physical health were perceived to be more negative than positive. Perceptions of effects on emotional, social, and mental health were mixed. Social health was consistently impacted the most. Participants favored short-term positive effects of texting, regardless of their potential long-term negative consequences. Participants noted many negative consequences of texting in inappropriate situations. Most, however, admitted to text messaging regardless of how severe they perceived an outcome might be to their health and/or future. Implications for school health and health education include teaching skill-building lessons on decision-making using texting as an example to enable students to make healthier text messaging choices. To acknowledge and enhance positive effects of text messaging, educators can have students demonstrate clear verbal communication skills, which may minimize miscommunication. These practices may help students avoid negative consequences of text messaging and help students communicate more effectively while text messaging.