Mediating Role of Social Anxiety in the Relationship between Social Media and Aggression among Adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62843/jrsr/2025.4b101Keywords:
Adolescents, Aggressive Behavior, Aggression, Social Anxiety, Social MediaAbstract
Adolescents often experience significant pressure to gain and maintain social media engagement because it is indicative of their status in society, importance, and worth to others. Adolescents who frequently engage with social media often exhibit signs of social anxiety and aggressive behavior. The objective of the current study is to investigate the mediating role of social anxiety in the association between social media and aggression in adolescents. The study employed a cross-sectional correlational research approach, with data acquired by surveys. A sample of 300 adolescents was selected from various educational institutions, aged 16 to 18 years, using a convenient sampling technique. Data was collected by using Social Media Engagement Questionnaire (Przybylski et al., 2013), the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (Mattick & Clarke, 1998), and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992). Research indicates a significant positive correlation between social media usage, social anxiety, and aggression among adolescents. This study investigated the relationship between social media usage and aggression, while assessing the mediating effect of social anxiety on these connections among adolescents. The findings of the multiple linear regression analysis indicate that social media positively predicts social anxiety (R² = .10*) and aggression (R² = .40***) in adolescents. The outcomes of the current study will enhance awareness of adolescents' aggression and social anxiety in connection with their social media usage.
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