The Like Gap Effect: Desired-Undesired Like Discrepancy as a Mediator between Social Media Engagement and Fragmented Sleep among Adolescents

Abstract

The growing influence of social media on adolescents' lives has sparked significant concern about its effects on mental health and sleep quality. Adolescent gives immense attention and importance to social media posts (SMPs) and its corresponding responses. The disparity between desired and received engagement specifically, the number of likes on social media posts (SMPs) impacts adolescents' sleep patterns and quality. This study examines Adolescents’ social media engagement and how undesired numbers of likes can lead to stress, anxiety, and negative self-perception, potentially affecting their sleep quality? Taking 150 adolescents from four major cities viz. Indore (38%), Mumbai (16%), Bangalore (23%) and Pune (33%) the research is carried out to check the impact of SME on SQ while taking DNOL/UDNOL as mediating factors. Social media engagement and DNOL/UDNOL was measured through self-structured questionnaire (Alpha Coefficient .91) whereas SQ was measured through ‘Smart Watch’ considering ‘time spent in each sleep stage (hrs & min), heart rate variability (beats/min), respiratory rate (beats/min), oxygen saturation (SPO2) and overall sleep score’ as measurements. The data was collected from close family group and colleagues who helped to tabulate the data for 30 days by monitoring their children’s SME and SQ. Google form played a vital role in this research which helped to collect data from the respondents. Using ‘Structural Equation Modeling’ association between SME and SQ is measured along with mediating effect of DNOL & UDNOL. Findings reveal strong connection between SME and SQ of adolescents. DNOL & UDNOL mediate the relationship and considerably influence the SQ. Adolescents potentially use social media for ‘peer validation & approval, entertainment and self-expression’.