The widespread use of media among college students -- from texting, chatting on mobile phones to posting status updates on Facebook -- may be affecting their academic performance, say researchers at the Miriam Hospital's Centres for Behavioural and Preventive Medicine in the US.

The study showed that freshmen and women spend nearly half their day - 12 hours - engaged in some form of media use, particularly texting, music, the internet and social networking.

Researchers found media use, in general, was associated with lower grade point averages (GPAs) and other negative academic outcomes. However, there were two exceptions: (1) Newspaper reading and (2) Listening to music were actually linked to a positive academic performance.

The findings, reported online by the journal ‘Emerging Adulthood’ offers new insight into media use in early adulthood, a time when many young people are living independently for the first time and have significant freedom from parental monitoring, reports Science Daily.

Researchers also believe the findings demonstrate the central role of social media in the lives of college students, and suggest these forms of media are used more on campus than off.

“We found women who spend more time using some forms of media report fewer academic behaviours, such as completing homework and attending class, lower academic confidence and more problems affecting their school work, like lack of sleep and substance use," said lead author Jennifer L. Walsh from the Miriam Hospital's Centres for Behavioural and Preventive Medicine.