Systematic Reviews and Meta Analysis

Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis Study

Number: 61 June 14, 2026
TR EN

Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis Study

Abstract

The increase in social media use can affect individuals well-being levels. Therefore, this study evaluated studies on the relationship between social media addiction and well-being in Turkey by meta-analysis. In addition, the study aimed to determine the variables that may have a moderating effect on this relationship. In this context, a literature review covering 2010-2024 was conducted using the YÖK Thesis Center, ULAKBIM TR Index and Google Scholar databases. As a result of the review, 19 studies (13 theses, 6 articles) that met the inclusion criteria and reported Pearson Correlation coefficient (r) were included in the analysis. Publication bias, heterogeneity and overall effect size were calculated; no publication bias was detected as a result of the analysis. Since there was a high level of heterogeneity among the analyzed studies (I²=97.384%), the random effects model was used to calculate the average effect size. The average effect size was calculated with the random effects model and an inverse, low-level relationship was found between social media addiction and wellbeing (r̅ = -0.284). In moderator analyses determined that the publication type variable and the sample group had no significant effect on this relationship. The findings were evaluated within the framework of the existing literature.

Keywords

Social media, social media addiction, well-being, meta-analysis

References

  1. Adams, S. K., & Kisler, T. S. (2013). Sleep quality as a mediator between technology-related sleep quality, depression, and anxiety. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 16(1), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2012.0157
  2. Ahn, D., & Shin, D. H. (2013). Is the social use of media for seeking connectedness or for avoiding social isolation? Mechanisms underlying media use and subjective well-being. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(6), 2453–2462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.12.022
  3. Aksoy, S. (2020). Investigation of the relationship between social media addiction, social anxiety, and personal well-being in university students (Publication No: 642636). [Master’s thesis, Üsküdar University]. Council of Higher Education National Thesis Centre.
  4. Alfaya, M. A., Abdullah, N. S., Alshahrani, N. Z., Alqahtani, A. A. A., Algethami, M. R., Al Qahtani, A. S. Y., Aljunaid, M. A., & Alharbi, F. T. G. (2023). Prevalence and determinants of social media addiction among medical students in a selected university in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Healthcare, 11(10), 1370. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11101370
  5. Aslan, H. R., & Tolan, Ö. Ç. (2022). Social appearance anxiety, automatic thoughts, psychological well-being and social media addiction in university students. International Education Studies, 15(1), 47–62. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v15n1p47
  6. Aslan, Ö. Ş., & Terzi, R. (2023). The relationship between organizational commitment and organizational cynicism: A meta-analysis study. Anadolu University Journal of Social Sciences, 23(1), 79–98.
  7. Ayaz, A. (2023). The mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between social media addiction and psychological well-being: A study on university students (Publication No: 831020). [Master’s thesis, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University]. Council of Higher Education National Thesis Centre.
  8. Balcı, Ş., Karakoç, E., & Öğüt, N. (2020). Psychological well-being as a predictor of social media addiction: A survey on health workers. Online Journal of Technology Addiction and Cyberbullying, 7(1), 35–63.
  9. Bányai, F., Zsila, Á., Király, O., Maraz, A., Elekes, Z., Griffiths, M. D., & Demetrovics, Z. (2017). Problematic social media use: Results from a large-scale nationally representative adolescent sample. PLOS ONE, 12(1), e0169839. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169839
  10. Batmaz, Ö. (2023). The effect of student-centered teaching practices on the development of speaking skills: A meta-analysis study. Journal of Language Education and Research, 9(1), 59–105.
APA
Soylu, T. (2026). Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis Study. Educational Academic Research, 61, 152-162. https://doi.org/10.33418/education.1679557
AMA
1.Soylu T. Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis Study. Educational Academic Research. 2026;(61):152-162. doi:10.33418/education.1679557
Chicago
Soylu, Tolga. 2026. “Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis Study”. Educational Academic Research, nos. 61: 152-62. https://doi.org/10.33418/education.1679557.
EndNote
Soylu T (June 1, 2026) Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis Study. Educational Academic Research 61 152–162.
IEEE
[1]T. Soylu, “Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis Study”, Educational Academic Research, no. 61, pp. 152–162, June 2026, doi: 10.33418/education.1679557.
ISNAD
Soylu, Tolga. “Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis Study”. Educational Academic Research. 61 (June 1, 2026): 152-162. https://doi.org/10.33418/education.1679557.
JAMA
1.Soylu T. Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis Study. Educational Academic Research. 2026;:152–162.
MLA
Soylu, Tolga. “Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis Study”. Educational Academic Research, no. 61, June 2026, pp. 152-6, doi:10.33418/education.1679557.
Vancouver
1.Tolga Soylu. Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis Study. Educational Academic Research. 2026 Jun. 1;(61):152-6. doi:10.33418/education.1679557