Investigation of Social Media Addiction, Experiential Avoidance and Social Emotional Learning Skills in High School Students in Terms of Demographic Variables
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to examine how social media addiction, experiential avoidance, and social emotional learning skills of high school students differed according to some demographic variables. The participants consisted of 721 (439 female, 282 male) high school students. Data were collected via Demographic Information Form, Social Media Addiction Scale for Adolescents, Avoidance and Fusion Scale–Youth 8 and Social Emotional Learning Scale for Adolescents. The results of independent samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA indicated significant differences between several demographic variables and social media addiction, experiential avoidance, and social emotional learning skills. Firstly, female students showed higher levels of social media addiction and experiential avoidance than male students. Secondly, students who used social media mainly for leisure and socializing purposes had higher social media addiction and experiential avoidance level but lower social emotional learning skills. Entertainment-oriented platforms such as Instagram and TikTok were associated with higher addiction and avoidance, while communication-oriented platforms such as WhatsApp were related to higher social emotional learning skills. Finally, nighttime use of social media increased social media addiction and experiential avoidance. All findings were discussed in the light of the related literature, and practical implications were provided.
Keywords
Social Media Addiction, Experiential Avoidance, Social Emotional Learning Skills, High School Students
Ethical Statement
With the ethics committee decision dated 22.03.2024 and numbered 53911, the necessary approval was obtained from Hasan Kalyoncu University Ethics Committee. Before the research, the participants were informed and their consent was obtained.
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