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Problematic social media use, satisfaction with life, and levels of depressive symptoms in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Mediation role of social support

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate whether social support might mediate the relationship between problematic social media use (PSMU) and satisfaction with life, and depressive symptoms. The participants of this study consisted of 579 university students ranging in age between 1738 years (M = 21.66, SD = 3.06). Participants completed the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Questionnaire, the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The results showed that the majority of participants (78.1%) spent an increasing time on social media owing to COVID-19. PSMU significantly predicted satisfaction with life, depressive symptoms, and social support. Social support predicted significantly both satisfaction with life and depressive symptoms. Results of the mediation analysis revealed that a pathway in which social support mediates the relationships between the PSMU and depressive symptoms and satisfaction with life is possible. These results suggest that social support may be an important psychological mechanism that mitigates the influence of PSMU on mental health.

Source: Psihologija

DOI: 10.2298/psi220613009c

Authors: İlhan Çi̇çek, Mehmet Emin Şanlı, Gökmen Arslan, Murat Yıldırım

Institutions: Batman University, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Lebanese American University

Language: English

Topic: Impact of Technology on Adolescents

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4380085616

FWCI: 22.94

Cites: 122

Cited by: 67

Related to: 10