Relationship between Social Media Addiction, Social Anxiety and Loneliness among College Students

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the relationship between social media addiction, social anxiety, and loneliness among college students aged 18-22 using a correlational research design. A sample of 150 participants was selected through purposive sampling, and data were collected using three established scales: the Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS), the Social Anxiety Questionnaire for Adults (SAQ-A30), and the UCLA Loneliness Scale through google forms. The relationships between the variables were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The findings showed a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between social media addiction and social anxiety, a weak positive correlation between social media addiction and loneliness, and a similar correlation between social anxiety and loneliness. These results indicate that greater social media addiction is associated with elevated levels of social anxiety and loneliness, and that social anxiety is also linked to heightened loneliness.