Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Loneliness Among Undergraduate Students of University of Peshawar

Abstract

The quantitative study examined the relationship between social media addiction and loneliness among undergraduate students at the University of Peshawar. Examining the relationship between these two variables is essential because it shows how excessive screen time harms a student's psychological health. This paper provides counsellors, universities, and students with the resources they need to build stronger support networks and promote better digital behaviors. The study was administered to 100 undergraduate students (50 male, 50 female). The Social Media Addiction Scale Student Form (SMAS-SF; Sahin, 2018) and the University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale Version 3 (UCLA-LS3; Russell et al., 1996) were used in the current study. An informed consent form, demographic sheet, and two instruments were provided to participants. Results showed a positive correlation between addiction to social media and loneliness among undergraduate students of the University of Peshawar. The findings of this research depicted that social media addiction and loneliness were affected by gender. Results show females are more inclined to social media addiction and loneliness than males.