"The Relationship of Social Media Use with Depression and Loneliness in Adolescents: A Descriptive Study"

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship of social media use with depression and loneliness in adolescents. Material and Methods: The sample of the descriptive study was determined as 599 students by power analysis and the students were selected by simple random method. To collect the data of the study Descriptive Characteristics Form, Social Media Addiction Scale for Adolescents, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale were used. In the analyses of the data percentage, mean and the linear regression analysis were used. Results: Social media addiction total score average of adolescents was 6.21±2.50 (moderate), depression total score average 67.60±15.59 (moderate), loneliness total score average 58.65±9.90 (moderate). In the study, it was determined that adolescents' social media addiction has statistical significance in explaining depression and loneliness (p<0.05). Social media addiction explains depression with 8% and loneliness with 3%. Conclusion: It was determined that social media addiction has been found to affect depression and loneliness in adolescents.