THE INFLUENCE OF SELF-ESTEEM, LONELINESS, AND SUICIDALITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between self-esteem, loneliness, suicidality with social media addiction. University students (N = 198) were sampled by utilizing an online survey, using convenience sampling method. Five instruments were used, including the Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS), Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSE), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale-3, and Yatt Suicide Attitude Scale (YSAS). In the multiple linear regression analysis, the regression model accounted for a significant 12.3% of the variance in social media addiction. Only self-esteem was a significant predictor of social media addiction. Lastly, loneliness and suicidality were not significantly associated with social media addiction. Treatment of social media addiction should take into consideration the evaluation and intervention of self-esteem issues among university students.