The Relationship Between Loneliness and Social Media Addiction in Adolescents

Abstract

Social media dependency among adolescents has become a growing concern, particularly in relation to loneliness. This study examines the relationship between loneliness and social media dependency, considering demographic factors (gender, age, and socioeconomic status) and psychological variables (self-esteem and resilience). A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 adolescents using validated scales. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between loneliness and social media dependency (r = 0.47, p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis confirmed loneliness as the strongest predictor (β = 0.45, p < 0.001), with females and older adolescents exhibiting higher dependency. Mediation analysis showed that self-esteem partially mediated the relationship, while moderation analysis indicated that resilience weakened the effect of loneliness on social media dependency. These findings highlight the need for intervention strategies aimed at enhancing resilience and self-esteem to mitigate social media dependency among lonely adolescents.