The Role Of Perceived Social Support For Social Media Addiction In Early Adults

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Introduction

In today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of our lives, with millions of people around the world using various platforms to connect with others, share their experiences, and seek validation. However, excessive use of social media has been linked to various negative consequences, including social media addiction. Social media addiction is a growing concern among early adults, who are more likely to spend excessive time on social media platforms. This study aims to investigate the role of perceived social support in social media addiction among early adults.

Background

Perceived social support refers to the extent to which individuals feel that they have support from the people around them, be it family, friends, or community. In the context of this research, strong social support can function as a protector of social media addiction. This is in line with psychological theory, which states that strong social relations can reduce the sense of loneliness and stress, which often triggers excessive use of social media.

Methodology

This study used a quantitative method to investigate the relationship between perceived social support and social media addiction among early adults. A total of 349 respondents were involved in the study, who were selected through convenient sampling techniques. Data collection was carried out using two instruments, namely the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) consisting of 12 items and Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS) consisting of 21 items. Statistical analysis was carried out using simple linear regression through the SPSS application.

Results

The results of this study showed a negative relationship between perceived social support and social media addiction. The R Square value of 0.094 and the coefficient of -0.652 indicated that there was a significant negative role between perceived social support and social media addiction. This means that the higher the social support felt by individuals, the lower their addiction to social media.

Discussion

The results of this study provide an important insight into the importance of support from the family environment in reducing addiction to social media. The dimension of the family as the most influential factor shows that healthy interaction and communication in the family can reduce the needs of individuals to seek validation and recognition on social media platforms. When individuals feel supported and cared for by their families, they tend not to feel the need to spend excessive time on social media to get attention or recognition from others.

Conclusion

The results of this study contribute to the development of policies and programs that focus on increasing social support among early adults, especially in the family context. By strengthening family relations, it is expected to reduce the risk of social media addiction among young individuals. This research can also be a reference for further research to explore further about other variables that might affect social media addiction and how social support can be utilized as an effective prevention strategy.

Implications

By understanding the role of social support that is felt, we can formulate more effective steps to deal with the problem of social media addiction that is increasingly worrying in this digital era. This study highlights the importance of family support in reducing social media addiction and provides a basis for further research in this area.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including the use of convenient sampling techniques, which may not be representative of the entire population. Additionally, the study only investigated the relationship between perceived social support and social media addiction, and did not explore other variables that may affect social media addiction.

Future Research Directions

This study provides a foundation for further research in the area of social media addiction and social support. Future studies can explore other variables that may affect social media addiction, such as personality traits, mental health, and social media usage patterns. Additionally, studies can investigate the effectiveness of social support interventions in reducing social media addiction.

References

  • [1] Cohen, S., Gottlieb, B. H., & Underwood, L. G. (2000). Social relationships and mortality: A review of the literature. Social Science & Medicine, 50(10), 1315-1327.
  • [2] DiDonato, K. D., & Bucy, E. P. (2013). Social media and social support: A systematic review. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(6), 2665-2675.
  • [3] Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2011). Online social networking and addiction—a review of the psychological literature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8(9), 3528-3552.

Appendix

The following is the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS) used in this study:

Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)

  1. I can talk about my problems with my family.
  2. I can count on my family to help me when I need it.
  3. I feel close to my family.
  4. I can talk about my problems with my friends.
  5. I can count on my friends to help me when I need it.
  6. I feel close to my friends.
  7. I can talk about my problems with my community.
  8. I can count on my community to help me when I need it.
  9. I feel close to my community.
  10. I have someone to turn to when I need advice.
  11. I have someone to turn to when I need emotional support.
  12. I have someone to turn to when I need help with daily tasks.

Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS)

  1. I feel anxious when I am unable to access social media.
  2. I feel irritable when I am unable to access social media.
  3. I feel restless when I am unable to access social media.
  4. I feel guilty when I am unable to access social media.
  5. I feel preoccupied with social media when I am not using it.
  6. I use social media to escape from negative emotions.
  7. I use social media to avoid dealing with problems.
  8. I use social media to feel connected to others.
  9. I use social media to feel validated by others.
  10. I use social media to feel entertained.
  11. I use social media to feel informed.
  12. I use social media to feel connected to my community.
  13. I use social media to feel connected to my friends.
  14. I use social media to feel connected to my family.
  15. I use social media to feel connected to others who share similar interests.
  16. I use social media to feel connected to others who share similar values.
  17. I use social media to feel connected to others who share similar goals.
  18. I use social media to feel connected to others who share similar experiences.
  19. I use social media to feel connected to others who share similar emotions.
  20. I use social media to feel connected to others who share similar thoughts.
  21. I use social media to feel connected to others who share similar behaviors.

Q: What is social media addiction?

A: Social media addiction is a pattern of behavior where an individual spends excessive time on social media platforms, often to the point of neglecting other aspects of their life. This can lead to negative consequences, such as decreased productivity, strained relationships, and decreased mental health.

Q: What is perceived social support?

A: Perceived social support refers to the extent to which an individual feels that they have support from the people around them, be it family, friends, or community. This can include emotional support, practical support, and informational support.

Q: How does perceived social support relate to social media addiction?

A: The results of this study showed a negative relationship between perceived social support and social media addiction. This means that the higher the social support felt by individuals, the lower their addiction to social media.

Q: What are the dimensions of social support that were investigated in this study?

A: The dimensions of social support that were investigated in this study include family support, friend support, and community support. The results showed that family support was the most significant dimension in reducing social media addiction.

Q: What are the implications of this study for policy and practice?

A: The results of this study suggest that policies and programs aimed at reducing social media addiction should focus on increasing social support among early adults, particularly in the family context. This can include initiatives such as family therapy, support groups, and community-based programs.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations, including the use of convenient sampling techniques, which may not be representative of the entire population. Additionally, the study only investigated the relationship between perceived social support and social media addiction, and did not explore other variables that may affect social media addiction.

Q: What are the future research directions for this study?

A: Future studies can explore other variables that may affect social media addiction, such as personality traits, mental health, and social media usage patterns. Additionally, studies can investigate the effectiveness of social support interventions in reducing social media addiction.

Q: What are the practical implications of this study for individuals?

A: The results of this study suggest that individuals can reduce their risk of social media addiction by increasing their perceived social support. This can include seeking support from family and friends, joining social support groups, and engaging in community-based activities.

Q: What are the potential consequences of social media addiction?

A: The potential consequences of social media addiction include decreased productivity, strained relationships, decreased mental health, and decreased physical health.

Q: What are the potential benefits of social media use?

A: The potential benefits of social media use include increased social connections, increased access to information, and increased opportunities for self-expression.

Q: How can individuals maintain a healthy balance between social media use and other aspects of their life?

A: Individuals can maintain a healthy balance between social media use and other aspects of their life by setting boundaries, prioritizing face-to-face interactions, and engaging in activities that promote physical and mental well-being.

Q: What are the potential risks of social media addiction for individuals?

A: The potential risks of social media addiction for individuals include decreased self-esteem, decreased self-confidence, and decreased mental health.

Q: What are the potential risks of social media addiction for society?

A: The potential risks of social media addiction for society include decreased productivity, decreased economic growth, and decreased social cohesion.

Q: How can individuals seek help for social media addiction?

A: Individuals can seek help for social media addiction by speaking with a mental health professional, joining a support group, and engaging in activities that promote physical and mental well-being.

Q: What are the potential benefits of seeking help for social media addiction?

A: The potential benefits of seeking help for social media addiction include increased self-awareness, increased self-regulation, and increased mental health.