Social Media Addiction Scale Research Articles

Genç Yetişkinlerde Olumlu Çocukluk Yaşantıları ve Sosyal Medya Bağımlılığı İlişkisinde Mutluluğun Aracılık Etkisi

Objective: This study focuses on exploring the connection between positive experiences during childhood, overall happiness, and the propensity for social media addiction in young adults.
 Method: The study gathered data from 413 young adults in Turkey, averaging 25.73 years in age (Standard Deviation=4.77). Data collection involved using the Positive Childhood Experiences Scale, the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, and the Social Media Addiction Scale. Mediation analysis was performed to examine the mediating effect of happiness.
 Results: Positive childhood experiences were positively associated with happiness and negatively associated with social media addiction. There was a negative relationship between happiness and social media addiction. Happiness played a mediating role in the relationship between positive childhood experiences and social media addiction. 
 Conclusion: Participants with favorable experiences in childhood reported higher levels of happiness and less social media addiction. These results suggest that the social media addiction prevention and intervention programs should focus efforts on enhancing happiness and positive childhood experiences.

Mirror of the Self: Exploring the Influence of Self-Esteem and Narcissism on Social Media Addiction in college student

Social media addiction is a concerning condition because it will disturb a person's mental health. This study aims to analyze the effect of self-esteem and narcissism on social media addiction. This study uses quantitative research using survey and correlational research designs. The subjects of this study amounted to 65 people and the research data were revealed using the self-esteem scale, narcissistic scale, and social media addiction scale. The results showed that there was a negative correlation between self-esteem and social media addiction, then statistics also hurt social media addiction. negative impact on social media addiction. It is recommended that future researchers conduct an in-depth investigation of the complex interactions between narcissism, self-esteem, and social media use. narcissistic, self-esteem, and social media use, and develop more effective strategies to reduce the negative effects of social media addiction. strategies to reduce negative effects.

Exploring Gender Differences, Perceptions, and Behaviors: The Interplay Between Social Media Addiction and Social Appearance Anxiety Among Young Adults

The pervasive influence of social media has significantly impacted the mental health and well-being of young adults, particularly through increased social media addiction (SMA) and social appearance anxiety (SAA). Our study investigates the relationship between social media addiction and social appearance anxiety among young adults, highlighting the interplay between compulsive social media use and concerns about physical appearance. A sample of 549 undergraduate students from Turkey, including 339 females and 210 males, completed the Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS) and the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS). Data were analyzed using correlation, independent t-tests, and linear regression to explore the relationships and differences between variables. Our study found significant relationships between SMA and SAA, with higher levels of addiction linked to increased appearance anxiety. Social comparison tendencies and photo-editing behaviors were also associated with higher SMA and SAA. No significant gender differences were observed, suggesting a universal impact of social media on these psychological issues. The findings underscore the intertwined nature of SMA and SAA, emphasizing the need for comprehensive interventions that address both aspects to improve mental health outcomes. Promoting positive self-comparisons and reducing photo-editing behaviors online can help mitigate the negative effects of social media use on young adults’ mental well-being.

Investigation Of The Relationship Between Social Media Addiction, Social Media Burnout and Exercise Commitment In Individuals Actively Engaged in Fitness

In contemporary society, the widespread integration of digital technologies; It has opened unprecedented avenues for connection, information dissemination, and self-expression. However, as individuals become increasingly immersed in the complex web of online interactions, concerns about maladaptive behavior have begun to receive academic attention. This discourse converges on three interrelated phenomena: social media addiction, exercise addiction, and the concept of social media burnout in athletes. These facts, based on rigorous academic research, underscore the complex dynamics between technology, physical activity, and mental health. The purpose of this discussion, which investigates the subtle dimensions of social media addiction, exercise addiction and the unique manifestation of burnout in individuals who engage in fitness, is to examine the relationship between social media addiction, social media burnout and exercise adherence in individuals who actively engage in fitness. In our research, scale systems consist of 3 parts; personal information form, social media addiction scale, social media burnout scale and exercise addiction scale. While the relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the research, IBM SPSS 26 statistical program was used in the analysis of the data. As a result of the analysis of the data obtained, it was determined that there was no significant difference between the participants' social media addictions and exercise addictions, and it can be said that individuals who are actively involved in fitness act consciously about social media use. In addition, as a result of the exercise addiction scale applied to measure the exercise addiction of the participants, it was concluded that although the majority of the participants (n = 334) showed symptoms of exercise addiction, they were not exercise addicts.

The mediating and buffering effect of resilience on the relationship between loneliness and social media addiction among adolescent

Social media addiction has many negative effects on the mental health of adolescents. In addition, adolescence is among the high-risk groups in terms of social media addiction. Loneliness is an important variable in the emergence of social media addiction in adolescents. In addition, loneliness is considered a risk factor for adolescents' psychological resilience. Although there is a significant relationship between psychological resilience and technology addictions, there is no research examining the mediating role of psychological resilience between loneliness and social media addiction in adolescents. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between loneliness and social media addiction in adolescents. The study was conducted with 786 adolescents aged 11 to 18, including 474 girls (60.3%) and 312 (39.7%) boys. The data of the study were collected using the Social Media Addiction Scale, the UCLA-Loneliness Short Form, and the Psychological Resilience Scale. The mediation analysis results showed that psychological resilience had a partial mediator role in the relationship between loneliness and social media addiction. These results obtained in the study provide important evidence for the potential buffering role of psychological resilience in reducing social media addiction in adolescents with high levels of loneliness. An overall evaluation of the results indicates that psychological resilience interventions for adolescents with high levels of loneliness could reduce their social media addiction and affect their mental health positively.

Behavioral Issues Related to Excessive Usage of Social Media among School-going Adolescents: A Study from Sonitpur District of Assam, India

Background: School-going adolescents are found to be on the leading edge when it comes to social media usage. Aim and Objectives: The study was designed to see the behavioral issues related to excessive usage of social media among school-going adolescents from the Sonitpur district of Assam, India. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive research design and simple random sampling were used to collect data. At the onset, 1045 respondents were recruited, but finally, n = 943 respondents were kept for the final study. Tools administered were sociodemographic data sheet, a semi-structured questionnaire, strength and difficulty questionnaire, and social media addiction scale. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The level of social media addiction was very high in 30.5% of the respondents. In Pearson’s coefficient correlation, social media addiction score was found to be significantly positively correlated with the emotional problem (r = 0.509, P = 0.01), conduct problem (r = 0.398, P = 0.01), hyperactivity problem (r = 0.489, P = 0.01), and peer problem (r = 0.359, P = 0.01). Conclusion: The present study highlighted the high prevalence of social media addiction among school-going adolescents. Hence, based on the findings, precautionary measures are the need of the hour. Intervention can be planned at the school level in collaboration with mental health-care personnel such as psychologists, school counselors, and social workers, etc.

The effect of self-compassion on social media addiction among college students - The mediating role of gratitude: An observational study.

In contemporary society, social media pervades every aspect of daily life, offering significant benefits such as enhanced access to information, improved interconnectivity, and fostering community among its users. However, its usage, particularly when excessive, can lead to negative psychological outcomes, including the prevalence of social media addiction (SMA) among adolescents. While extensive research has been conducted on the phenomenon of SMA, there is a notable paucity of studies examining the link between individual levels of self-compassion and susceptibility to SMA. This study aims to investigate the correlation between self-compassion and SMA in college students, while also examining the potential mediating influence of gratitude. The study sampled 1131 college students who engaged in an anonymous online survey. This survey utilized the Chinese translations of the Self-Compassion Scale, Gratitude Questionnaire, and SMA Scale. For data analysis, validated factor analysis was performed using IBM® SPSS® AMOS™ version 23. Correlation analyses were carried out with IBM® SPSS® version 22.0, and the PROCESS macro (Model 4) was employed to assess path and mediation effects. Higher levels of positive self-compassion were found to mitigate the effects of SMA, while elevated levels of negative self-compassion were associated with an increase in such addiction. The study further revealed that gratitude played a partial mediating role in the relationship between self-compassion and SMA. Specifically, positive self-compassion can reduce symptoms of SMA by enhancing levels of gratitude, whereas negative self-compassion may worsen these symptoms by diminishing gratitude. Positive self-compassion is instrumental in fostering personal growth among college students, with gratitude serving as a significant mediator in reducing SMA.

Social media addiction, depression and life satisfaction in Turkish pharmacy students: A correlational study

Background: Although research on pharmacy students remains limited, this study is the first of its kind in the field of pharmacy in Turkey and aims to investigate the impact of social media addiction on depression and life satisfaction among pharmacy students. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study of 597 students was conducted between September and October 2023 at the pharmacy faculty of a university in Turkey. Three instruments were used to collect the necessary data: the socio-demographic data form, Social Media Addiction Scale, Penate Basic Depression Scale and Life Satisfaction Scale. All of these were combined into a single questionnaire. Results: A positive but weak yet significant correlation existed between pharmacy students' total Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS) score and their total Basic Depression Scale (BDS) score. Conversely, a negative but weak yet significant relationship was observed between pharmacy students' total SMAS and Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS) total scores. According to the results of multiple linear regression analysis, social media addiction and life satisfaction were identified as predictors of depression. Conclusion: In developing countries, such as Turkey, there is a lack of sufficient academic literature on this topic. Future research should not only monitor these relationships but also focus on prevention and treatment strategies.

The relationship between social withdrawal and problematic social media use in Chinese college students: a chain mediation of alexithymia and negative body image

This study explores the relationship between social withdrawal and problematic social media use among college students, with a focus on the mediating roles of alexithymia and negative body image. Using the University Student Social Withdrawal Questionnaire, Social Media Addiction Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Negative Body Image Scale, 2582 college students (33.46% male, average age = 19.46 years, SD = 2.23) were surveyed. Social withdrawal, alexithymia, negative body image, and problematic social media use were significantly correlated with each other. Social withdrawal positively predicted problematic social media use, and both alexithymia and negative body image played a chain mediating role between social withdrawal and problematic social media use. The findings indicate that individual social withdrawal is associated with college students’ problematic use of social media. The results suggest that alexithymia and negative body image may mediate this association, highlighting a potential pathway through which social withdrawal influences social media use patterns.

Effects of Social Media Addiction and Psychological Resilience On Online Purchasing Decisions

In this research, it was aimed to assess the influence of social media addiction and psychological resilience on online purchasing decisions from a marketing standpoint. A survey was administered to 384 university students, comprising a demographic questionnaire, the Online Decision-Making Scale (ODMS), the Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS), and the Psychological Resilience Scale (PRS). Psychological resilience (PRS) exhibited a significant negative correlation with sensitivity to brand dimension of ODMS. SMAS total scores were positively correlated with sensitivity to quality, sensitivity to brand, sensitivity to innovation, sensitivity to mobility and sensitivity to web interface. The effect of social media addiction on online purchase decisions was statistically significant and positive, while the effect of psychological resilience was statistically insignificant. The findings indicate that university students' addiction to social media positively influences their online shopping behavior. As levels of social media addiction increase, students tend to engage in more online purchases.

The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioural Approach-Based Psychoeducation Program on Social Media Addiction

This study aims the examine of the effect of the psychoeducation program developed based on the Cognitive-Behavioural Approach (CBA) on the social media addiction levels of adolescents. The study involves the use of a quasi-experimental design with study group, in which pre-test, post-test, and follow-up studies were performed. The study group consists of 24 (12 experimental and 12 control) secondary school students selected from three different high schools and determined through random assignment. The experimental group received the psychoeducation program consisting of nine-seasons and no action was taken for the control group. Personal Information Form (PIF) and Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS) were used in the study as data collection tools. A pre-test two weeks before the application of the psychoeducation program, a post-test at the end of the application, and a follow-up test three months after the end of the application were performed among adolescents in the experimental group. Statistical analyzes revealed that there was a significant decrease in the social media addiction scores of the adolescents in the experimental group. In line with these results obtained from the study, it is possible to say that the psychoeducation program applied to adolescents in reducing social media addiction is effective in obtaining successful results in this process.

The Influence of Self-Esteem on Social Media Addiction among High School Students

This study aims to examine the influence of self-esteem on social media addiction among high school students. The research employs a quantitative methodology and utilizes snowball sampling, targeting respondents who are high school students aged 15-18 years and use social media for more than 6 hours a day. The sample size for this study is 128 respondents. Data on self-esteem is measured using a self-esteem scale, while social media addiction is measured using a social media addiction scale. The data analysis technique used is simple regression analysis. The results of the analysis indicate that the hypothesis is supported, showing an influence of self-esteem on social media addiction among high school students, with a significance value of 0.000 (p < 0.01) and an R Square value of 0.137. This means that self-esteem accounts for 13.7% of the influence on social media addiction, while 86.3% is influenced by other factors.

The relationship between childhood psychological abuse and social media addiction among college students: the mediating role of fear of missing out and the moderating role of left-behind experience.

Mobile social media is a new type of online media that is participatory, open, and communicative, among other characteristics. Due to the increasing popularity of social media, this technology has become an indispensable part of people's social lives. This study aims to examine the relationship between childhood psychological maltreatment and social media addiction among university students as well as the mediating role of fear of missing out and the moderating effect of left-behind experience in this context. A voluntary anonymous online survey of 1694 university students was conducted using the Childhood Psychological Maltreatment Scale, the Fear of Missing Out Scale, and the Social Media Addiction Scale. First, significant positive correlations were observed between childhood psychological maltreatment and both fear of missing out and social media addiction among university students. Fear of missing out partially mediated the relationship between childhood psychological maltreatment and social media addiction. Second, left-behind experience was found to moderate the direct path from childhood psychological maltreatment to social media addiction as well as the first half of the mediating effect of missed anxiety. Childhood psychological maltreatment can predict social media addiction among university students not only directly but also indirectly through the mediating role of missed anxiety. The direct effect of childhood psychological maltreatment on social media addiction is moderated by left-behind experience. The first half of the mediating role of missed anxiety is also moderated by left-behind experience.

Social Media Addiction: Does it Affect the Grit Of Generation Z?

The transition from adolescence to adulthood experienced by Generation Z involves facing new responsibilities, making important decisions, and adapting to the demands of higher education, work, or married life. To succeed in this transition requires adapting, surviving, and focusing on objectives. Grit, characterized by passion and perseverance, plays an important role in facing the challenges of modern life. This increases resilience and fosters commitment, making it an important factor in facing contemporary life's dynamic and demanding aspects. However, exposure to internet access raises concerns about the emergence of social media addiction and its negative impacts. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effect of social media addiction on Generation Z's grit, measured by the Social Media Addiction Scale and the Short-grit Scale. This study involves 333 Generation Z who actively interact on social media for 4 hours or more. The results show that there is influence of social media addiction on Generation Z grit of about 20.4% (p < .001, B = -.452). In short, Generation Z must pay attention to their interactions on social media to avoid addiction, as the significant impact of their grit affects various aspects of their lives, including academics, sports, and work.

Social Media Addiction, Personality Factors and Fear of Negative Evaluation in a Sample of Young Adults

Despite growing attention paid to exploring the benefits as well as negative consequences of social media use, we know less about the background variables involved in social media addiction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate several potential contributors to addiction to social media, namely, self-esteem, fear of negative evaluation, sensation seeking and five personality variables. The participants of the online survey were Hungarian university students (N = 250, aged between 18 and 35 years; 59.2% female). Females scored higher on the social media addiction scale [t(248) = −2.42, p < 0.05]. The findings showed that (a) fear of negative evaluation positively predicted social media addiction (β = 0.28, p < 0.001) and (b) self-esteem (β = −0.23, p < 0.01) and conscientiousness (β = −0.14, p < 0.05) negatively predicted social media addiction in this sample of young adults. Additionally, social media addiction was negatively correlated with emotional stability [r (250) = −0.38, p < 0.001] and positively with extraversion; however, these variables were not significant predictors in the multivariate analysis. These findings suggest that young people should learn how to carefully use the Internet and social media settings, e.g., courses on addiction to digital devices should be accessible to all university students.

Social media addiction, escapism and coping strategies are associated with the problematic internet use of adolescents in Türkiye: a multi-center study.

The literature highlighted that problematic internet use can have detrimental consequences on individuals' well-being. Social media addiction, escapism and coping skills are closely related to problematic internet use. However, no study has currently examined the relationship between problematic internet use and social media use, escapism and coping skills. This multicenter cross-sectional designed study evaluated the relationships between problematic internet use and social media addiction, escapism, and coping skills in 508 adolescents (319 female) aged 14-18 years. In order to collect data, sociodemographic data form, Internet Addiction Scale, Social Media Addiction Scale, Escapism Scale and Kidcope Adolescent Version have been used. First, adolescents who scored ≥50 on the Internet Addiction Test were classified as the problematic internet use group; adolescents who scored <50 were classified as the control group. Then, the relationships between problematic internet use and social media addiction, escapism and coping skills were evaluated. The results showed that problematic internet use was associated with duration of social media use, impairment in social media-related functionality, preferring virtual life, and virtual pleasure, escapism, avoidant and negative coping strategies. These findings may provide an empirical basis for problematic internet use prevention and intervention in adolescence.

Friendship Quality as a Predictor of Addiction to Social Networking Sites among University Students

This study aimed to identifying the extent to which the quality of friendship contributes to addiction to social networking sites among Jordanian university students. The study sample consisted of (629) male and female students at the bachelor’s level. The study fillowed the predictive descriptive methodology. Data were collected online using two measurement tools to measure the quality of friendship and addiction to social. Networking sites. The results indicated that there were statistically significant differences in the mean scores of males and females on the social media addiction scale, in favor of males, and on the quality of friendship, in favor of females. The results showed that two dimension of the friendship quality scale predict addiction to social networking sites among males. These two dimensions are trustworthy alliance and familiarity. While none of the dimensions of this scale were predicted for females, Anumber of recommendations were presented such as: the necessityof a role for the family in guiding children to choose the ideal type of friend, and the necessity of strengthening self-monitoring for future research.

Impact of social media addiction on physical and mental health in medical and paramedical undergraduate students of Jamnagar urban area: A cross-sectional analytical study

Background: Sixty-three percent of the world population uses the Internet and 58% use social media. Internet addiction or social media addiction is an impulse disorder marked by excessive or poorly regulated pre-occupations, desires, or behaviors. Teenagers and young age students are more prone to social media addiction as they spend more time on smartphones. Aims and Objectives: The present study was conducted to detect social media addiction and its impact on the physical and mental health of students. Materials and Methods: The study was done in four medical and paramedical colleges with 720 students divided equally in all four colleges and further in each year. A novel social media addiction scale was used for derived from Young’s Internet addiction scale to assess social media addiction. Data were collected in the GitHub tool. A Chi-square test and univariate logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: 37.5% of the study participants were social media addicted. Medical students were more addicted as compared to paramedical. Physical and mental health problems were seen more in social media addicts as compared to non-addicts. Behavioral changes were seen more in social media addicts. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of social media addiction in medical and paramedical students. Proper steps need to be taken to counteract this growing problem at an early stage.

The Effect of Social Media Addiction on Premenstruel Syndrome and Sleep Quality

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the impact of social media addiction on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and sleep quality. Material-Method: The study population consisted of female students enrolled in the Health Sciences Faculty of a public university (n=884). Data were collected using the "Personal Information Form," "Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS)," "Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS)," and "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)" instruments. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and Linear Regression Analysis were used for statistical evaluation. Results: The mean age of the students was 20.40±1.65, and the mean age of menarche was 13.42±1.60. The mean total score for PMSS was 129.57±37.75, the mean total score for SMAS was 12.93±4.84, and the mean score for PSQI was 13.22±2.04. The correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between SMAS and the total scores of PMSS and PSQI (r=.325, p=.000; r=271, p=.000). In addition, as a result of the regression analysis, a 1-unit change in the social media addiction scale score causes a positive increase of .325 units (β) on the total score of the premenstrual syndrome scale and a positive increase of 0.444 units (β) on the total score of the PSQI. Conclusion: Social media addiction was found to be an effective variable in increasing premenstrual syndrome symptoms and poor sleep quality.

Investigation of Social Media Addiction in Adolescents in Terms Of Social Appearance Anxiety and Social Desirability

When the studies are examined, it is seen that social media addiction (SMA) increases in adolescents with high social desirability and social appearance anxiety (SAA). For this reason, the aim of this research is to examine SMA in adolescents in terms of SAA and social desirability and to determine at what level social desirability and SAA predict SMA. The research was designed as a descriptive study in the relational survey model. A total of 484 students, 338 of whom were girls (69.8%) and 146 (30.2%) were boys studying at secondary school institutions of the central districts of Hatay province, participated in the study in which convenience sampling method. Social Media Addiction Scale, Social Appearance Anxiety Scale and Social Desirability Scale were used as data collection tools. T test and multiple regression analysis were used in the analysis of the data. As a result of the research, it was found that SMA and social desirability does not differ by gender and also it was seen that SAA differed significantly according to gender and girls were more concerned about their social appearance. In consequence of the research, it was also found that social desirability and SAA significantly predict SMA.