The impact of social media addiction on state self-esteem; a cross-sectional study in university students from Samborondón, Ecuador

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2024-1042

Keywords:

self-esteem state, addiction, social media addiction, empirical research, performance self-esteem, mental health, well-being, university students

Abstract

Introduction: The rise of social media has transformed social interactions, becoming essential in the lives of young people. Its excessive use raises concerns about negative repercussions on mental health, especially on self-esteem, which is crucial for psychological well-being and academic success. Methodology: This cross-sectional quantitative study investigated the influence of social media addiction on the state of self-esteem among 521 psychology students, selected by convenience. The Social Media Addiction Scale - Student Form (SMAS-SF) and the State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES) were used. Results: The results indicate that problems arising from social media use (β=-0.42, p<.001) and the obsession with being connected (β=-0.49, p=0.01) are significant predictors of lower state self-esteem, explaining 10% of the variance in state self-esteem. Discussions: Social media addiction has a moderately negative impact on the self-esteem of university students, which has negative implications for well-being. Conclusions: The need for specific interventions to mitigate these effects is highlighted. Further research is recommended to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of such interventions in the long term.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Daniel Oleas Rodríguez, Universidad Tecnológica Ecotec

Associate Professor in Research Design in Psychology at the Faculty of Communication, Humanities, and Creativity. Holds responsibility for the research area of the Psychology program at Ecotec University. Leadership for the research project "Techniques for Emotional Care and Self-Care".

Gonzalo López-Barranco Pardo, Universidad Tecnológica Ecotec / Universidad de Valladolid

Associate Professor in Special Topics in Communication at the Faculty of Communication, Humanities and Creativity. Member of the research project “Techniques for Emotional Care and Self-Care". PhD. (c) at University of Valladolid.

References

Aktaş, M., Uzun, N. B., & Bakır Aygar, B. (2023). Investigation of the Measurment Invairance of the Social Media Addiction Scale. International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 10(3), 544-554. https://doi.org/10.52380/ijcer.2023.10.3.351 DOI: https://doi.org/10.52380/ijcer.2023.10.3.351

Al-Helal, R. A., Ginanjar, A., & Ayu, M. A. (2021). Impacts on Individual’s Self-Esteem from the Use of Social Media. 2021 IEEE 7th International Conference on Computing, Engineering and Design (ICCED), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCED53389.2021.9664852 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCED53389.2021.9664852

Andreassen, C. S., Pallesen, S., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). The relationship between addictive use of social media, narcissism, and self-esteem: Findings from a large national survey. Addictive Behaviors, 64, 287-293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.03.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.03.006

Azem, L., Al Alwani, R., Lucas, A., Alsaadi, B., Njihia, G., Bibi, B., Alzubaidi, M., & Househ, M. (2023). Social Media Use and Depression in Adolescents: A Scoping Review. Behavioral Sciences, 13(6), 475. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13060475 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13060475

Blanchard, L., Conway‐Moore, K., Aguiar, A., Önal, F., Rutter, H., Helleve, A., Nwosu, E., Falcone, J., Savona, N., Boyland, E., & Knai, C. (2023). Associations between social media, adolescent mental health, and diet: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 24(S2), e13631. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13631 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13631

Branden, N. (1995). The six pillars of self-esteem. Bantam.

Chukwuere, G. C. J., & Chukwuere, J. E. (2023). The Difficulties Posed by Digital Technology: Understanding the Psychological Consequences of Social Media Use on Young Adults’ Body Image and Self-Esteem. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 12(6), 379. https://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2023-0176 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2023-0176

Cingel, D. P., Carter, M. C., & Krause, H.-V. (2022). Social media and self-esteem. Current Opinion in Psychology, 45, 101304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101304 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101304

Coopersmith, S. (1967). The antecedents of self-esteem. Freeman.

Faelens, L., Hoorelbeke, K., Soenens, B., Van Gaeveren, K., De Marez, L., De Raedt, R., & Koster, E. H. W. (2021). Social media use and well-being: A prospective experience-sampling study. Computers in Human Behavior, 114, 106510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106510 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106510

Farooq, H. O., Farrukh, H., & Khan, Z. (2023). The Influence of Social Media on Adolescents’ Self-Esteem. Qlantic Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 4(3), 173-182. https://doi.org/10.55737/qjssh.413440589 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55737/qjssh.413440589

Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Buchner, A., & Lang, A.-G. (2009). Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: Tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behavior Research Methods, 41(4), 1149-1160. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149

Flynn, H. C., Mote, S. L., & Morse, B. L. (2022). Social Media and Adolescent Mental Health: Sounding the Alarm. NASN School Nurse, 37(5), 271-276. https://doi.org/10.1177/1942602X221079758 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1942602X221079758

Fujiwara, H., Tsurumi, K., Shibata, M., Kobayashi, K., Miyagi, T., Ueno, T., Oishi, N., & Murai, T. (2022). Life Habits and Mental Health: Behavioural Addiction, Health Benefits of Daily Habits, and the Reward System. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 813507. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.813507 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.813507

Haynes, T. (2024). Dopamine, Smartphones & You: A battle for your time [Blog]. Harvard Blog. https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/dopamine-smartphones-battle-time/

Holden, C. (2001). «Behavioral» Addictions: Do They Exist? Science, 294(5544), 980-982. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.294.5544.980 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.294.5544.980

Huang, C. (2022). A meta-analysis of the problematic social media use and mental health. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 68(1), 12-33. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020978434 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020978434

Hussain, Z., Elhai, J. D., Montag, C., Wegmann, E., & Rozgonjuk, D. (2024). The role of trait and state fear of missing out on problematic social networking site use and problematic smartphone use severity. Emerging Trends in Drugs, Addictions, and Health, 4, 100140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etdah.2023.100140 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etdah.2023.100140

JASP Team. (2023). JASP (0.17.1) [Software].

Kahn, W. J. (Ed.). (2021). Social media in the 21st century: Perspectives, influences and effects on well-being. Nova Science Publishers.

Khoo, S. S., Yang, H., & Toh, W. X. (2024). Leveraging Instagram to enhance self-esteem: A self-affirmative intervention study and multilevel mediation analysis. Computers in Human Behavior, 150, 107972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107972 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107972

Koçak, O., İlme, E., & Younis, M. Z. (2021). Mediating Role of Satisfaction with Life in the Effect of Self-Esteem and Education on Social Media Addiction in Turkey. Sustainability, 13(16), 9097. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169097 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169097

Krause, H.-V., Baum, K., Baumann, A., & Krasnova, H. (2021). Unifying the detrimental and beneficial effects of social network site use on self-esteem: A systematic literature review. Media Psychology, 24(1), 10-47. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2019.1656646 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2019.1656646

Landa-Blanco, M., García, Y. R., Landa-Blanco, A. L., Cortés-Ramos, A., & Paz-Maldonado, E. (2024). Social media addiction relationship with academic engagement in university students: The mediator role of self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. Heliyon, 10(2), e24384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24384 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24384

Lee, D. S., & Way, B. M. (2021). Social media use and systemic inflammation: The moderating role of self-esteem. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health, 16, 100300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100300 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100300

Masya, H., Dewantari, T., & Meryando, C. (2022). Social Media Addiction in Terms of Gender in Junior High School. PSIKOPEDAGOGIA Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling, 10(2), 79. https://doi.org/10.12928/psikopedagogia.v10i2.20840 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12928/psikopedagogia.v10i2.20840

Maurya, C., Dhillon, P., Sharma, H., & Kumar, P. (2024). Bidirectional and cross-lag relationship between social media use and psychological wellbeing: Evidence from an Indian adolescent cohort study. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 303. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17276-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17276-1

Maza, M. T., Fox, K. A., Kwon, S.-J., Flannery, J. E., Lindquist, K. A., Prinstein, M. J., & Telzer, E. H. (2023). Association of Habitual Checking Behaviors on Social Media With Longitudinal Functional Brain Development. JAMA Pediatrics, 177(2), 160. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.4924 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.4924

Miljeteig, K., & Von Soest, T. (2022). An Experience Sampling Study on the Association Between Social Media Use and Self-Esteem. Journal of Media Psychology, 34(6), 373-382. https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000333 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000333

Möri, M., Mongillo, F., & Fahr, A. (2022). Images of bodies in mass and social media and body dissatisfaction: The role of internalization and self-discrepancy. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1009792. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1009792 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1009792

Muris, P., & Otgaar, H. (2023). Self-Esteem and Self-Compassion: A Narrative Review and Meta-Analysis on Their Links to Psychological Problems and Well-Being. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 16, 2961-2975. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S402455 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S402455

Ozimek, P., & Bierhoff, H.-W. (2020). All my online-friends are better than me – three studies about ability-based comparative social media use, self-esteem, and depressive tendencies. Behaviour & Information Technology, 39(10), 1110-1123. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2019.1642385 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2019.1642385

Pandey, R., Tiwari, G. K., Parihar, P., & Rai, P. K. (2021). Positive, not negative, self‐compassion mediates the relationship between self‐esteem and well‐being. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 94(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12259 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12259

Pedrouzo, S., & Krynski. (2023). Hyperconnected: Children and adolescents on social media. The TikTok phenomenon. Archivos Argentinos de Pediatría, 121(4). https://doi.org/10.5546/aap.2022-02674.eng DOI: https://doi.org/10.5546/aap.2022-02674.eng

Rani, U., & Padmalosani. (2019). Impact of Social Media on Youth. International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering, 8(11S), 786-787. https://doi.org/10.35940/ijitee.K1138.09811S19 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35940/ijitee.K1138.09811S19

Rivadeneyra, R., Ward, L. M., & Gordon, M. (2007). Distorted Reflections: Media Exposure and Latino Adolescents’ Conceptions of Self. Media Psychology, 9(2), 261-290. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213260701285926 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15213260701285926

Şahin, C. (2018). Social Media Addiction Scale—Student Form: The Reliability and Validity Study. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 17(1), 169-182.

Scolari, C. A. (2023). Intermedialidad. Contratexto, 40, 13-20. https://doi.org/10.26439/contratexto2023.n40.6761 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26439/contratexto2023.n40.6761

Sireli, O., Dayi, A., & Colak, M. (2023). The mediating role of cognitive distortions in the relationship between problematic social media use and self-esteem in youth. Cognitive Processing, 24(4), 575-584. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-023-01155-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-023-01155-z

Smith, D. (2018). Social Media in Society. En Growing your Library Career with Social Media (pp. 1-13). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102411-9.00001-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102411-9.00001-7

Song, I. (2023). Does Instagram Have More Negative Impact on Psychological Well-Being? The Case of Korean College Students. Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research, 11(1), 4-30. https://doi.org/10.15206/AJPOR.2023.11.1.4

Steinsbekk, S., Wichstrøm, L., Stenseng, F., Nesi, J., Hygen, B. W., & Skalická, V. (2021). The impact of social media use on appearance self-esteem from childhood to adolescence – A 3-wave community study. Computers in Human Behavior, 114, 106528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106528 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106528

Thomas, F. N., & Kleyman, K. S. (2020). The influence of Western body ideals on Kenyan, Kenyan American, and African Americans’ body image. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 48(4), 312-328. https://doi.org/10.1080/10852352.2019.1627084 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10852352.2019.1627084

Tomás, J. M., Oliver, A., Galiana, L., Sancho, P., & Lila, M. (2013). Explaining Method Effects Associated With Negatively Worded Items in Trait and State Global and Domain-Specific Self-Esteem Scales. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 20(2), 299-313. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2013.769394 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2013.769394

Ulvi, O., Karamehic-Muratovic, A., Baghbanzadeh, M., Bashir, A., Smith, J., & Haque, U. (2022). Social Media Use and Mental Health: A Global Analysis. Epidemiologia, 3(1), 11-25. https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3010002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3010002

Ursoniu, S., Serban, C. L., Giurgi-Oncu, C., Rivis, I.-A., Bucur, A., Papava, I., & Bredicean, A.-C. (2022). Validation of the Romanian Version of the Social Media Addiction Scale-Student Form (SMAS-SF) Among Undergraduate Medical Students. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 18, 1195-1205. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S368476 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S368476

Valencia-Ortiz, R., & Cabero-Almenara, J. (2019). La adicción a las redes sociales: Validación de un instrumento en el contexto mexicano. Health and Addictions/Salud y Drogas, 19(2), 149-159. https://doi.org/10.21134/haaj.v19i2.460 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21134/haaj.v19i2.460

Verdejo-García, A., & Bechara, A. (2009). A somatic marker theory of addiction. Neuropharmacology, 56, 48-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2008.07.035 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2008.07.035

Wagner, B., Lipson, S. K., Sandy, C., & Eisenberg, D. (2014). Social Media and Mental Health in Adolescent and Young Adult Populations. Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews, 25(3), 670-683. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/9781581108927-social_media

Westbrook, A., Ghosh, A., Van Den Bosch, R., Määttä, J. I., Hofmans, L., & Cools, R. (2021). Striatal dopamine synthesis capacity reflects smartphone social activity. iScience, 24(5), 102497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.102497 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.102497

Zhang, B. (2023). Variable and model selection method in linear regression for analysis. Applied and Computational Engineering, 6(1), 116-122. https://doi.org/10.54254/2755-2721/6/20230764 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54254/2755-2721/6/20230764

Zhao, J., Jia, T., Wang, X., Xiao, Y., & Wu, X. (2022). Risk Factors Associated With Social Media Addiction: An Exploratory Study. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 837766. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.837766 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.837766

Zsila, Á., & Reyes, M. E. S. (2023). Pros & cons: Impacts of social media on mental health. BMC Psychology, 11(1), 201, s40359-023-01243-x. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01243-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01243-x

Zubair, U., Khan, M. K., & Albashari, M. (2023). Link between excessive social media use and psychiatric disorders. Annals of Medicine & Surgery, 85(4), 875-878. https://doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000000112 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000000112

Downloads

Published

2024-11-05

How to Cite

Oleas Rodríguez, D., & López-Barranco Pardo, G. (2024). The impact of social media addiction on state self-esteem; a cross-sectional study in university students from Samborondón, Ecuador. European Public & Social Innovation Review, 9, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2024-1042

Issue

Section

INNOVATING IN CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY APPLICATIONS