Relationship Between Social Media Use, Social Desirability, and Self-Esteem Among University Students: An Analytic and Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to comprehensively explore the associations between social media use, social desirability, and self-esteem levels among university students. Method: The study included 298 university students between October 2021 and January 2022. Data were gathered through an online survey incorporating the Descriptive Information Form, the Social Desirability Scale (SDS), the Social Media Addiction Scale–Adult Form (SMAS-AF), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, group comparisons, and Spearman’s correlation analysis. Results: The mean scores were as follows: RSES=1.75 ± 1.55, SDS=28.08 ± 9.90, and SMAS-AF=49.91 ± 14.22. Statistically significant differences in RSES, SMAS-AF, and SDS scores were found based on participants’ daily duration of social media use (P < .05). Moreover, SDS scores differed significantly based on social media usage status (P < .05). Correlational analyses revealed that higher levels of social media addiction were associated with greater social desirability and lower self-esteem. Moreover, SDS and RSES scores were positively correlated. Conclusion: The findings reveal interconnected patterns among social media addiction, social desirability, and self-esteem within a university student population. These results underscore the importance of raising awareness and implementing educational interventions to promote balanced social media use and support students’ psychological well-being.