REPERCUSSIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION ON RELATIONSHIP CLOSENESS AND RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION AMONGST CHINESE UNDERGRADUATES

Li-Wei Wei

Abstract


In the current socio-digital epoch, the intricate interplay between social media addiction and its potential ramifications on romantic relationships remains largely enigmatic, especially within specific demographic subsets. This study aims to elucidate the repercussions of social media addiction on love relationship closeness and satisfaction among Chinese undergraduates. A cohort of 583 Chinese undergraduates was meticulously analyzed, encompassing an almost equal gender distribution and spanning across diverse academic ranks and relationship durations. Utilizing the "Social Media Addiction Scale - Adult Form (SMAS-AF)" and validated scales for assessing relationship intimacy and satisfaction, the research painted a multifaceted picture. Findings revealed a high inclination towards social media addiction (X=4.20), with specific aspects of engagement demonstrating profound agreement among participants. An analytic exploration of the addiction demonstrated a pronounced influence on cognitive faculties and emotional regulation while revealing less consistent challenges in curtailing usage. In the romantic realm, while relationship closeness yielded a moderate mean score of 3.38, love relationship satisfaction signaled a moderate-to-high satisfaction degree (X=3.83). Interestingly, while gender and academic progression remained non-determinants for addiction levels, relationship length emerged as a significant variable. Correlational analyses showcased a stark negative association between social media addiction and relationship closeness (r= -.491) but, surprisingly, a positive correlation with relationship satisfaction (r= .129). Such dichotomous outcomes advocate for deeper investigation, perhaps suggesting a paradigm wherein intensified digital engagement might enhance superficial relationship contentment at the potential cost of depth and closeness.

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter


Keywords


social media addiction, relationship closeness, relationship satisfaction, media education, relationship wellbeing

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abela, A., Vella, S., & Piscopo, S. (2020). Couple relationships in a global context: Understanding love and intimacy across cultures. Springer Nature.

Aboujaoude, E., Kuss, D. J., Yao, M. Z., & Leung, L. W. (2022). Online psychology beyond addiction and gaming: A global look at mental health and internet-related technologies. Frontiers Media SA.

Ahmed, M. B., Boudhir, A. A., Santos, D., Dionisio, R., & Benaya, N. (2023). Innovations in smart cities applications volume 6: The proceedings of the 7th International Conference on smart city applications. Springer Nature.

Akbari, M., Seydavi, M., Zamani, E., & Griffiths, M. D. (2022). The risk of exercise addiction mediates the relationship between social media use and mental health indices among young Iranians. Addiction Research & Theory, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2022.2149742

Alpermann, B., & Yang, W. (2020). “Bereaved single-child families” (Shidu Jiating): Dealing with an unintended consequence of China’s one-child policy. Social Welfare in India and China, 131-154. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5648-7_8

Aslan, H. R., & Tolan, Ö. Ç. (2022). Social appearance anxiety, automatic thoughts, psychological well-being and social media addiction in University students. International Education Studies, 15(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v15n1p47

Avunduk, Y. (2021). The relationship between leisure satisfaction and social media addictions of individuals at University. Journal of Educational Issues, 7(1), 507. https://doi.org/10.5296/jei.v7i1.18592

Barclay, F. P., & N., B. (2021). Social media in India: Regulatory needs, issues and challenges. SAGE Publishing India.

Batra, K., & Sharma, M. (2023). Effective use of social media in public health. Elsevier.

Benns, J., Burridge, S., & Penman, J. (2021). Intimacy, sex and relationship challenges laid bare across the lifespan: Applied principles and practice for health professionals. Routledge.

Bossetta, M. (2022). Antisemitism on social media platforms. Antisemitism on Social Media, 227-242. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003200499-15

Bunz, U. (2021). Investigating the relationship between social media use, Big Five personality, and well-being. Journal of Communication Technology, 4(3). https://doi.org/10.51548/joctec-2021-016

Burns, D. D. (1993). Ten Days to Self-Esteem. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Camilleri, M. A., & Falzon, L. (2020). Understanding motivations to use online streaming services: Integrating the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the uses and gratifications theory (UGT). Spanish Journal of Marketing - ESIC, 25(2), 217-238. https://doi.org/10.1108/sjme-04-2020-0074

Carpenter, A., & Greene, K. (2015). Social penetration theory. The International Encyclopedia of Interpersonal Communication, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118540190.wbeic160

Chang, J., & Lee, D. (2022). Changes in user experience and satisfaction as media technology evolves: The reciprocal relationship between video games and video game-related media. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 174, 121219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121219

Che, X., & Ip, B. (2017). Social networks in China. Chandos Publishing.

Chen, Y., Liu, X., Chiu, D. T., Li, Y., Mi, B., Zhang, Y., Ma, L., & Yan, H. (2022). Problematic Social Media Use and Depressive Outcomes among College Students in China: Observational and Experimental Findings. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(9), 4937. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19094937

Duradoni, M., Innocenti, F., & Guazzini, A. (2020). Well-being and social media: A systematic review of Bergen addiction scales. Future Internet, 12(2), 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi12020024

Ede, M. O., Okeke, C. I., Igbo, J. N., & Aye, E. (2023). Testing the efficacy of group cognitive-behavioral therapy for pathological internet use among undergraduates in Nigeria. Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. https://doi.org/10.47626/2237-6089-2021-0348

Erber, R., & Erber, M. (2016). Intimate relationships: Issues, theories, and research (2nd ed.). Psychology Press.

Fatah, A., & Anindita, R. (2022). How is social media addiction impact on the psychological well-being of employees. LITERATUS, 4(1), 28-39. https://doi.org/10.37010/lit.v4i1.618

Fletcher, G. J., Simpson, J. A., Campbell, L., & Overall, N. C. (2019). The science of intimate relationships. John Wiley & Sons.

Floyd, K., Schrodt, P., Erbert, L. A., & Scharp, K. M. (2022). Exploring communication theory: Making sense of us. Taylor & Francis.

Gennaro, S., & Miller, B. (2021). Young people and social media: Contemporary children’s digital culture. Vernon Press.

Geraee, N., Eslami, A. A., & Soltani, R. (2019). The relationship between family social capital, social media use and life satisfaction in adolescents. Health Promotion Perspectives, 9(4), 307-313. https://doi.org/10.15171/hpp.2019.42

Goodfriend, W. (2020). Intimate relationships. SAGE Publications.

Gorman, G., & Jordan, C. H. (2015). “I know you're kidding”: Relationship closeness enhances positive perceptions of teasing. Personal Relationships, 22(2), 173-187. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12071

Hamid, M., & Afshana, S. (2022). Social media and meme trolling: The impact of trolling through memes in Kashmir. Global Journal of Human-Social Science, 33-41. https://doi.org/10.34257/gjhssavol22is7pg33

Hartley, A., & Kassam, A. (2016). Social networking for learning in higher education: Capitalising on social capital. Social Media for Learning in Higher Education 2015 Conference Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.7190/socmedhe/2015/8

Helm, F., Marsh, H. W., Dicke, T., & Möller, J. (2019). Dimensional comparison theory. Social Comparison, Judgment, and Behavior, 201-225. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190629113.003.0008

Hoffmeyer-Zlotnik, J. H., & Warner, U. (2013). Harmonising demographic and socio-economic variables. Harmonising Demographic and Socio-Economic Variables for Cross-National Comparative Survey Research, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7238-0_1

Howe, D. (1995). Attachment theory and social relationships. Attachment Theory for Social Work Practice, 45-70. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-24081-4_4

Hu, M., & Kong, X. (2023). Reactions to romantic relationship announcements in parasocial love and unrequited love. Psychology of Popular Media, 12(2), 219-230. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000400

Huang, H. (2013). Social media addiction and sociopsychological traits. Social Media Generation in Urban China, 77-102. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45441-7_5

Huang, H. (2013). Social media addiction, academic performance, and social capital. Social Media Generation in Urban China, 103-112. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45441-76

Huys, N. (2023). Impact of social media. Nicky Huys.

Jarrar, Y., Awobamise, A., Nweke, G. E., & Tamim, K. (2022). Motivations for social media use as mediators in the relationship between emotional intelligence and social media addiction. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 12(4), e202243. https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/12580

Kahle, L. R., & Valette-Florence, P. (2012). Marketplace lifestyles in an age of social media: Theory and methods. M.E. Sharpe.

Kirezli, O., & Aydin, A. E. (2022). Understanding social media addiction through personal, social, and situational factors. Research Anthology on Usage, Identity, and Impact of Social Media on Society and Culture, 967-994. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-6307-9.ch051

Kopecka-Piech, K., & Sobiech, M. (2022). Mediatisation of emotional life. Taylor & Francis.

Kuang, W. (2018). Social media in China. Springer.

Kulthoom, N. (2023). Wellbeing implications of intimate relationships. Ingram Publisher.

Lee, Y., & Lin, S. (2017). Exploring horizontal communication of matrix-structured organization with social penetration theory. 2017 International Conference on Applied System Innovation (ICASI). https://doi.org/10.1109/icasi.2017.7988324

Li, S. (2023). The impact of social media on intimate relationships among Chinese college students. BCP Education & Psychology, 9, 132-138. https://doi.org/10.54691/bcpep.v9i.4673

Liu, Y. (2023). Social media overuse and anxiety among Chinese University students: The mediating role of perceived stress. Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, 8, 662-669. https://doi.org/10.54097/ehss.v8i.4324

Logan, M. (2019.). Digitally witnessing police brutality: Examining the relationship between police violence, race, and affect in the age of social media. https://doi.org/10.22215/etd/2021-14476

Ma, W. W., Chan, W. W., & Cheng, C. M. (2019). Shaping the future of education, communication and technology: Selected papers from the HKAECT 2019 International Conference. Springer.

Mahendran, N. (2019). The role of culture in social media marketing. A systematic literature review. GRIN Verlag.

Malak, M. Z. (2018). Internet addiction and cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Clinical Applications. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.71277

Mieczkowski, H., Lee, A. Y., & Hancock, J. T. (2020). Priming effects of social media use scales on well-being outcomes: The influence of intensity and addiction scales on self-reported depression. Social Media + Society, 6(4), 205630512096178. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305120961784

Moore, E. (2022). Lululemon's Instagram strategy: A qualitative content analysis using uses and gratifications theory. https://doi.org/10.32920/ryerson.14653587.v2

Nations, media, and platforms. (2023). To Know Is to Compare, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/13999.003.0003

Nehring, D., & Kerrigan, D. (2019). Love, intimacy, and relationship management. Therapeutic Worlds, 106-124. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315551159-5

Nurbayani, S., Mulyani, N. S., & Utami, N. F. (2017). Online human trafficking: The impact of social media used. 2nd International Conference on Sociology Education. https://doi.org/10.5220/0007093300820085

Ogolsky, B. G., & Monk, J. K. (2019). Relationship maintenance: Theory, process, and context. Cambridge University Press.

Pradhan, J., & Singh, S. (2023). Unraveling the impact of social media on interpersonal communication and relationship. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 4(3), 1622-1625. https://doi.org/10.55248/gengpi.2023.32497

The prevalence of addiction to social networking sites and its impact on well-being among students of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. (2021). New Media and Mass Communication. https://doi.org/10.7176/nmmc/95-01

Pritamani, A. (2021). The relationship between emotional intelligence, relationship satisfaction and anger. https://doi.org/10.14293/s2199-1006.1.sor-.pp7tsmm.v1

Punyanunt-Carter, N. M., & Wrench, J. S. (2017). The impact of social media in modern romantic relationships. Lexington Books.

Ramazanoğlu, M. (2020). The relationship between high school students' internet addiction, social media disorder, and smartphone addiction. World Journal of Education, 10(4), 139. https://doi.org/10.5430/wje.v10n4p139

Roh, D. (2021). The relationship among sports tourism communication relationship commitment, love Mark formation, and relationship persistence intention through social media. Korean Journal of Sports Science, 30(2), 471-484. https://doi.org/10.35159/kjss.2021.4.30.2.471

Rowell, C. (2019). Social media in higher education: Case studies, reflections and analysis. Open Book Publishers.

Rustam, H., Anwar, M. N., & Iqbal, Q. (2023). Social media impact on human behaviour. Global Sociological Review, VIII(II), 15-29. https://doi.org/10.31703/gsr.2023(viii-ii).03

Şahin, C. (2018). Social media addiction scale--student form. PsycTESTS Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1037/t72756-000

Scott Graham, S., Conway, F. N., Bottner, R., & Claborn, K. (2022). Opioid use stigmatization and destigmatization in health professional social media. Addiction Research & Theory, 30(5), 375-381. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2022.2061962

Shaaban-Nejad, S. (2022). Impact of social media platforms in enhancing academic learning. EDULEARN Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.21125/edulearn.2022.1818

Shin, W., Wang, W. Y., & Song, J. (2023). COVID-racism on social media and its impact on young Asians in Australia. Asian Journal of Communication, 33(3), 228-245. https://doi.org/10.1080/01292986.2023.2189920

Singh, V. (2019). Impact of social media on social life of teenagers in India: A case study. Journal of Academic Perspective on Social Studies, (1), 13-24. https://doi.org/10.35344/japss.529285

Slotter, E. B., & Luchies, L. B. (2013). Relationship quality promotes the desire for closeness among distressed avoidantly attached individuals. Personal Relationships, 21(1), 22-34. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12015

Steers, M. N., Øverup, C. S., Brunson, J. A., & Acitelli, L. K. (2016). Love online: How relationship awareness on Facebook relates to relationship quality among college students. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 5(3), 203-216. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000067

Sun, Y. (2022). Losing the tug of war: A grounded theory study of the development of social media addiction. Published doctoral dissertation. The University of Texas, Austin. https://dx.doi.org/10.26153/tsw/43625

Tutgun Ünal, A. (2020). A comparative study of social media addiction among Turkish and Korean University students. Journal of Economy Culture and Society, 307-322. https://doi.org/10.26650/jecs2020-0064

Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2019). Media Use Is Linked to Lower Psychological Well-Being: Evidence from Three Datasets. The Psychiatric quarterly, 90(2), 311–331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-019-09630-7

Veit, M., Štulhofer, A., & Hald, G. M. (2016). Sexually explicit media use and relationship satisfaction: A moderating role of emotional intimacy? Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 32(1), 58-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2016.1193134

Vilar, R., Araujo, R. D., Coelho, G. L., Grangeiro, A. S., & Gouveia, V. V. (2017). Psychometric properties of the unidimensional relationship closeness scale (URCS) for a Brazilian sample. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 20. https://doi.org/10.1017/sjp.2017.12

Vowels, L. M. (2023). Sexual satisfaction: Relationship satisfaction. Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_2259-1

Wan, A. (n.d.). How do they think differently?: A social media advertising attitude survey on Chinese students in China and Chinese students in America. https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.263

Wang, X. (2016). Social media in industrial China. UCL Press.

Weinstein, A. M., & Siste, K. (2022). Excessive and problematic smartphone usage. Frontiers Media SA.

Wheeler, L., & Suls, J. (2019). A history of social comparison theory. Social Comparison, Judgment, and Behavior, 5-31. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190629113.003.0001

Wiecha, J. (2023). Emotional commitment: Relationship satisfaction. Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_840-1

Xuan, C. (2022). The effects of social media advertising in China: Theory, practices and implications. Taylor & Francis.

Yang, C. (2018). US-based social media use and American life: A study of Chinese students’ acculturation and adaptation in America. Global Media and China, 3(2), 75-91. https://doi.org/10.1177/2059436418783765

Yang, T., & Seo, S. (2017). Social media and socialization of international students in China -taking international college students in Chongqing as an example-. Korean-Chinese Social Science Studies, 15(1), 219-238. https://doi.org/10.36527/kcsss.15.1.8

Yigitcanlar, T., & Kankanamge, N. (2022). Social media analytics platforms. Urban Analytics with Social Media Data, 231-274. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003278986-11

Zavattaro, S. M., & Bryer, T. A. (2016). Social media for government: Theory and practice. Routledge.

Zeng, W., Wei, H., & Liu, M. (2023). Need for distinctiveness leads to pathological internet use? The perspective of cognitive behavioral model. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1609. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021609

Zhang, J. (2021). China: A shift from one-child policy to no-child policy. Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference on Public Relations and Social Sciences (ICPRSS 2021). https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211020.140

Zhigang, W., Lei, Z., & Xintao, L. (2020). Consumer response to corporate hypocrisy from the perspective of expectation confirmation theory. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.580114

Šlosáriková, M. (2020). Adult attachment, intimacy, commitment and passion in relation to relationship satisfaction. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/4m2rf




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v10i11.5055

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2023 Li-Wei Wei

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2015-2023. European Journal of Education Studies (ISSN 2501 - 1111) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms. All authors who send their manuscripts to this journal and whose articles are published on this journal retain full copyright of their articles. All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).