The Mediating Role of Physical Activity in the Relationship Among Social Anhedonia and Social Media Addiction in Young Adults

Year 2025, Volume: 3 Issue: 3, 109 - 116, 10.09.2025

Dilek Kılıç , Rüya Çapar , Selda Oğuz Gökçen

Abstract

Purpose: Addictive use of social media is becoming increasingly common among young adults. The time spent on social media distracts individuals from physical activity and makes them more sedentary. And there is a growing awareness that anhedonia plays a critical role in the overuse of social media. The aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of physical activity in the relationship between social anhedonia and social media addiction.
Methods: A total of 218 college students (mean age =21,39 ± 1,75) completed the questionnaires, including a brief demographic survey. Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Revised Social Anhedonia Scale and Physical Activity Scale-Short Form used to assess social media Uaddiction, social anhedonia, and level of physical activity respectively. Mediation analyses were conducted by using PROCESS macro in the SPSS software.
Results: Social anhedonia had both direct and indirect effects on social media addiction. physical activity significantly mediated the relationship between social anhedonia and social media addiction.
Discussion: The results of the current study emphasize the important role of physical activity level on social media addiction, focusing on university students. Future research could develop comprehensive intervention strategies that examine the effects of social programs aimed at increasing participation in physical activity on face-to-face communication and digital addiction.

Keywords

social anhedonia , social media addiction , physical activity , mediation

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Kutahya Health Sciences University (2024/06-36)

Supporting Institution

The study was supported by TÜBİTAK 2209-A University Students Research Projects Support Program

Project Number

1919B012320696

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