The Mediating Effect of Self-Control in the Relationship between Loneliness and Social Media Addiction among Young Adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54518/rh.6.5.2026.1641Keywords:
Loneliness, Self-Control, Social Media Addiction, Young AdultsAbstract
High levels of social media use among young adults increase the risk of social media addiction. This study aims to examine the effect of loneliness on social media addiction through self-control among young adults. The hypotheses propose that loneliness has an indirect effect on social media addiction through self-control, as well as a direct effect on social media addiction. This study used a quantitative approach, with path analysis conducted in JASP. The sample included 389 young adults aged 18–25 who actively used social media. The results revealed a significant indirect effect of loneliness on social media addiction through self-control. These findings indicate that higher levels of loneliness are associated with lower levels of self-control, which in turn are associated with higher levels of social media addiction. In addition, loneliness had a significant direct effect on social media addiction, indicating that individuals who experience higher levels of loneliness tend to exhibit higher levels of social media addiction. Therefore, self-control serves as a partial mediator in the relationship between loneliness and social media addiction among young adults. This study highlights the important role of self-control in explaining how loneliness may contribute to social media addiction among young adults.
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