THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA USE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The use of social media has become an important part of daily life, influencing the way individuals communicate, relate to others, and evaluate themselves. In this context, this study aims to analyze the relationships between social media use, social comparison, self-esteem, and psychological well-being, as well as the role of social media use as a mediator in the relationship between self-esteem and psychological well-being. At the same time, the study aims to identify differences in social media use based on the purpose of use and to highlight the implications of these relationships for human resource management. The research was conducted on a sample of 182 respondents using an online questionnaire, and data analysis was performed in JASP, utilizing descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlations, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and mediation analysis. The results show that social media use is positively associated with social comparison and negatively associated with self-esteem and psychological well-being. Furthermore, self-esteem is positively associated with psychological well-being, representing the primary factor associated with it. At the same time, significant differences in social media use were identified based on the purpose of use, with the highest level recorded for entertainment purposes. Moreover, social media use partially mediates the relationship between self-esteem and psychological well-being. In conclusion, the effects of social media on psychological well-being are complex and depend on usage patterns and individual user characteristics; the results underscore the importance of promoting a balanced approach to social media use and an organizational climate geared toward supporting employee well-being.