Influence of digital media use, environmental awareness, and eco-anxiety on university students’ mental health

The rapid integration of digital media into environmental education has reshaped how students engage with sustainability issues. However, growing exposure to environmental content through digital platforms may have unintended consequences for students’ psychological well-being. This study examines the impact of digital media use on university students’ mental health, with environmental awareness as a mediator and eco-anxiety as a moderator. Data were collected from 475 students (266 males and 209 females) enrolled in 10 top-ranked universities in Pakistan using a descriptive research design and a structured questionnaire. Participants were selected using multi-method and multistage sampling. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, regression, mediation, and moderation analyses. The findings indicate that excessive digital media use is associated with higher levels of anxiety and stress. Environmental awareness significantly mediated the relationship between digital media use and mental health. Eco-anxiety also emerged as a significant moderator, strengthening the association between digital media use and psychological distress. Higher levels of eco-anxiety were linked to greater mental health challenges. The study recommends that universities integrate counseling services and sustainability education programs to address eco-anxiety and promote students’ psychological well-being.