Social Media Addiction among University Students: The Predictive Roles of Fear of Missing Out, Cognitive Emotion Regulation, and Life Satisfaction

Authors : Bilge Bakır Aygar, Ali Ammar Kurt, Sinem Evin Akbay

Pages : 58-79

Doi:10.14812/cuefd.1467520

View : 80 | Download : 42

Publication Date : 2025-04-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The purpose of this research is to examine whether fear of missing out, cognitive emotion regulation and life satisfaction predict social media addiction. For this purpose, the relational survey model was used as the research design. The study group of the research consists of a total of 906 university students in Turkey, 675 of whom are female and 231 of whom are male, . The sample group was selected through convenience sampling. Data were obtained using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Scale, Life Satisfaction Scale, Fear of Missing Out Scale and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. In addition, a personal information form prepared by the researchers was used to collect demographic information such as gender, department and grade level of the study group. Before analysing the data, assumptions such as sample size, missing values, normality, linearity, multicollinearity and singularity, and finally extreme values were tested within the scope of regression analysis, and it was seen that the data showed a normal distribution. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationship among variables, and multiple regression analysis was performed to determine whether the independent variables significantly predicted the dependent variable. The findings of the study revealed that fear of missing out was the strongest correlate of social media addiction (r= .498, p< .001). Furthermore, social media addiction was found to be significantly associated with all other variables except the positive refocusing subscale of cognitive emotion regulation.. According to the results of multiple regression analysis, the cognitive emotion regulation sub-dimensions of self-blame, self-acceptance, positive refocusing, refocusing on the plan, destruction, fear of missing out, and life satisfaction together significantly and moderately predict social media addiction scores (R= .57, R2= .32, p< .001). These variables collectively explained approximately 32% of the total variance in social media addiction. However, the t-test results regarding the significance of the regression coefficients indicated that the sub-dimensions of cognitive emotion regulation, focusing on thought, positive reconsideration, putting it in perspective and blaming others, did not significantly predict social media addiction.
Keywords : Sosyal Medya Bağımlılığı, Gelişmeleri Kaçırma Korkusu, Bilişsel Duygu Düzenleme, Yaşam Doyumu