EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

Social media usage has become an integral aspect of the daily lives of young adults, raising questions about its potential impact on psychological wellbeing. The research aimed to examine the relationship between social media usage and psychological wellbeing in a sample of (N=100) young adults. The study utilized the Psychological Wellbeing Scale and the Social Media Scale to measure the participants' psychological wellbeing and social media usage, respectively. Conducting a convenient sampling approach, the research found a significant negative correlation between social media usage and psychological wellbeing, indicating that as social media usage increased, psychological wellbeing decreased. The statistical analysis employed Spearman’s Correlation through the SPSS software to explore the strength and direction of this relationship. The results contribute to the growing body of literature on the intersection of social media and mental health, highlighting the need for further exploration and understanding of the potential adverse effects of extensive social media engagement on psychological wellbeing. The findings, while consistent with existing research, underscore the importance of considering individual differences and nuances in the relationship between social media usage and psychological wellbeing among young adults. Suggestions for future research include replicating the study with a larger and more diverse sample and exploring qualitative aspects to provide a comprehensive understanding of the observed correlation.