The Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Anxiety Among Adults Living in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between social media addiction and anxiety levels among adults living in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The study employed a cross-sectional correlational design and included 243 participants aged 18 years and older who were recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the Social Media Addiction Scale, and the Anxiety Assessment Scale. Spearman’s rank-order correlation, the Mann–Whitney U test, and the Kruskal–Wallis H test were used to analyze the data. The results revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between the total social media addiction score and the total anxiety score (rₛ = .405, p < .001). Significant positive relationships were also identified between the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional dimensions of social media addiction and the physiological tension, worry, and lack of sense of security dimensions of anxiety. These findings indicate that higher levels of social media addiction are associated with higher levels of anxiety. However, due to the cross-sectional design of the study, no causal relationship can be inferred between the variables. Future studies examining the relationship between social media use and adults’ psychological well-being should consider not only the duration of use but also individuals’ purposes for using social media, emotional needs, and personal characteristics.