Relationship between Social Media Addiction and Mental Well-Being among College Students: A Quantitative Study Using Statistical Analysis

Abstract

Social media has become an essential part of college students' academic, social, and personal lives. Although these platforms facilitate communication and information sharing, excessive use may develop into addictive behavior that negatively affects mental well-being. The present study examines the relationship between social media addiction and mental well-being among college students using a quantitative research approach. Data were collected from 400 undergraduate and postgraduate students through a structured questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation, hierarchical multiple regression, moderation analysis, and MANOVA in IBM SPSS Statistics.

The findings indicate a significant negative relationship between social media addiction and mental well-being. Students with higher levels of addictive social media use reported lower psychological well-being, greater emotional exhaustion, and reduced life satisfaction. Regression analysis further revealed that social media addiction significantly predicts mental well-being after controlling for demographic variables. The study highlights the importance of promoting responsible social media use and digital well-being initiatives within higher education institutions. The findings provide useful implications for educators, mental health professionals, and policymakers in designing interventions that encourage healthier digital habits among college students.