Impact of Social Networking Addiction on Loneliness and Sleep Quality among Young Adults

Abstract

The current study examined the associations between social networking addiction, loneliness, and sleep quality among young adults. The analysis of self-reported data was conducted using a correlational study design on Social Networking Addiction (SNAS), Loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) and Sleep Quality (Sleep Quality Scale). A sample of 200 young adults was collected. Findings indicated a marginally positive association between the propensity for social networking addiction and the caliber of sleep experienced, this implies the existence of a complex interrelationship that extends beyond mere sleep disturbance due to nocturnal social media engagement. A stronger negative correlation emerged between social networking addiction and sleep quality, indicating that extreme usage of social networking potentially disrupts sleep patterns. Interestingly, a positive correlation was found between social networking addiction and loneliness scores, this suggests that heightened usage of social media platforms may not mitigate feelings of loneliness and may, in fact, exacerbate them. The outcomes of the study warrant additional investigation into the underlying causal processes.