EXAMINATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION AND SELF-ESTEEM: IMPACT ON LIFE SATISFACTION

Abstract

Social media has become an essential part of daily life for university students, but excessive use may influence their psychological well-being. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between social media addiction, self-esteem, and life satisfaction among university students and to determine whether social media addiction and self-esteem predict life satisfaction. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used, and data were collected from 70 undergraduate students using standardized measures including the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple regression, and two-way ANOVA through SPSS. The results indicated that self-esteem was positively associated with life satisfaction, while social media addiction showed a significant negative relationship with life satisfaction. Regression analysis further revealed that self-esteem positively predicted life satisfaction, whereas social media addiction negatively predicted it. However, the interaction effect between self-esteem and social media addiction on life satisfaction was not significant. These findings suggest that students with stronger self-esteem tend to feel more satisfied with their lives, whereas excessive engagement with social media may reduce overall well-being. The study highlights the importance of promoting healthy social media use and positive self-perception among university students in order to improve their overall life satisfaction.