Social Media and Autonomic Nervous System Function
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Authors
Julia Weihs
Alleigh TenHarmsel
Issue Date
2026
Type
Language
Keywords
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Abstract
This senior thesis examines how nighttime social media use influences autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, sleep quality, and cardiovascular function in college students. Twenty Alma College students aged 18–24 will participate in a two-week study comparing a no-socialmedia condition before bedtime to a social-media-use condition. The exclusion criteria includes: non Alma College student, individuals under the age of 18, individuals without social media accounts, and individuals with a diagnosed cardiac condition or taking medications that affect cardiovascular function or autonomic nervous system regulation. Heart rate variability (HRV) will be collected daily using a Polar chest-strap monitor and mobile app, with baseline measurements recorded during an initial lab visit. Participants will also complete demographic questionnaires and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess perceived sleep quality. Week 1 will require abstaining from social media for one hour before bed, while Week 2 will allow social media use during that same timeframe. Weekends, Saturday and Sunday, will have no intervention or data collection; this period serves as a reset between study weeks. HRV readiness scores and indicators of sympathetic and parasympathetic activity will be analyzed alongside survey data to explore relationships between nighttime digital behavior, sleep, and ANS regulation. Morning readiness scores will be rated on a scale of 1-10, lower scores indicate either an increase in parasympathetic or sympathetic dominance. A score of 1-3 (red) indicates high stress, a 4-6 (yellow) indicates minor stress and a score of 8 is considered “good” or low stress. Higher HRV with low heart rate shows rest and recovery while Lower HRV with higher heart rate shows higher stress. High sympathetic activity would suggest a need for rest and possible correlation between the reported PSQI and social media use. Findings aim to contribute to understanding how pre-sleep technology use may affect physiological recovery and cardiovascular health in young adults.