Understanding social media addiction among Thai university students : the interplay of self-esteem, extraversion, and self-compassion | |
| Author | Lam Thi My Duyen |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.IM-24-02 |
| Subject(s) | College students--Social media addiction--Thailand Structural equation modeling |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Information Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Background: The exponential growth in social media usage poses potential hazards to psychological well-being if misused. Self-compassion (SC) and self-esteem (SE) are essential for mental health, with SC notably exhibiting more beneficial qualities than SE. Enhancing these factors through therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is crucial for mental well-being. Objective: This study aims to explore the effects of users’ extraversion and SE on their social media addiction (SMA) levels and to analyze how SC influences the relationship between SMA, extraversion, and SE among university students in Thailand. Methods: Using a cross-sectional analysis, this study analyzed 288 students(161female and 120 male), aged 18-24 in Thailand who responded to an online survey that included the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Rosenberg’s Self-esteem Scale, Big Five In ventory Scale for Extraversion, and Neff’s Self-compassion Scale. The data collected were analyzed utilizing the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Findings: This study reveals that SC exhibits a complex relationship with SMA. Our analysis underscores that SC, while serving as a negative moderator within the context of extraversion and SMA, also independently shows a positive association with SMA. This illuminates the dual-faceted role of SC, suggesting its impact is contextually bound. SE has a significant inverse effect on SMA, aligning with prior research. These insights underscore the importance of considering individual differences and contextual factors in understanding and utilizing SC in therapeutic settings to promote healthier social media use. |
| Year | 2024 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology |
| Department | Department of Information and Communications Technologies (DICT) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Information Management (IM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Chaklam Silpasuwanchai |
| Examination Committee(s) | Vatcharaporn Esichaikul;Chutiporn Anutariya |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Scholarship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2024 |