The impact of social media addiction on self-esteem and life satisfaction among married couples.

Introduction: The pervasive use of social media has become an integral part of daily life, influencing various aspects of individual and relational well-being. Among married couples, the impact of social media is particularly significant, as excessive engagement with social media platforms may lead to diminished self-esteem and lower life satisfaction, both of which are essential components of a healthy and fulfilling marriage.

Objective: To assess the impact of social media addiction on self-esteem and life satisfaction among married couples.

Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 385 married individuals, predominantly residing in Gurugram, Haryana. The impact of social media addiction on self-esteem and life satisfaction among married couples was measured using the Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The results indicated that the majority (44.9%) of married couples were "little addicted" to social media, while only (14.3%) showed moderate to high levels of addiction. A significant negative correlation was found between social media addiction and life satisfaction (r = -0.519, P < 0.01), while a positive correlation was observed between social media addiction and self-esteem (r = 0.329, P < 0.01). Regression analysis revealed that self-esteem positively predicts social media addiction (β = 0.201, P < .001), while life satisfaction is a negative predictor (β = -.464, P < .001).

Conclusion: Social media addiction is significantly influenced by self-esteem and life satisfaction. Specifically, higher levels of self-esteem and lower levels of life satisfaction are associated with increased social media addiction. Well-balanced social media usage among married couples is essential to enhancing marital satisfaction and overall well-being.