Impact of Social Media Addiction on Emotional Well-Being and Body Image Dissatisfaction Among Young Adults

Abstract

The rapid development of digital technology and social networking sites has significantly impacted the psychological profile of young people in India. This study investigated the relationships between Social Media Addiction (SMA), emotional well-being (Positive and Negative Affect), and Body Image Dissatisfaction (BID) among 181 Indian young adults (N = 181; aged 18–30 years), grounded in Social Comparison Theory and the Displacement Hypothesis. 

A quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational and predictive design was employed. Three standardized scales were administered: the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale , the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule , and the Body Appreciation Scale-2. Data were analyzed via Pearson’s correlations, simple linear regression, and independent samples t-tests (IBM SPSS v26). SMA was significantly negatively correlated with body appreciation and positively correlated with negative affect . Regression analyses showed SMA predicted 15.5% of variance in BID  and 10.1% in positive affect . Females reported significantly higher SMA and negative affect; however, no significant gender difference was found in BID , indicating body image pressure has become gender-neutral in the Indian digital context. Findings highlight the need for digital-hygiene interventions in educational and clinical settings.