Social Media Addiction as a Predictor of Self-Esteem among Nursing Students

Abstract

Introduction: The increasing integration of social media into academic life has raised concerns about its psychological impact on students, particularly those in demanding health profession programs. Nursing students face unique stressors from clinical postings and academic pressure that may drive compulsive social media use and threaten self-esteem. This study was done to determine the levels of social media addiction and self-esteem, examine whether social media addiction predicts self-esteem, and identify associated factors among undergraduate nursing students in Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 158 undergraduate (B.Sc.) Nursing students (100% response rate) at Birat Medical College, Nepal, using a census approach. Data were collected using the Social Media Addiction Scale-Short Form (SMAS-SF) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and simple linear regression were applied. Results: The mean social media addiction score was 95.72 (SD = 16.42), with 86.08% classified as having moderate-to-high addiction. Mean self-esteem was 17.50 (SD = 2.78), with 17.72% reporting low self-esteem and none reporting high self-esteem. Social media addiction significantly predicted lower self-esteem (β = -0.40, p < 0.001, R² = 0.16). Appearance dissatisfaction, senior year, and longer sleep duration were significantly associated with self-esteem (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Social media addiction significantly and negatively predicts self-esteem among nursing students in Nepal. The high prevalence of addiction and low self-esteem warrant targeted interventions addressing digital literacy, stress management, and self-esteem building in nursing curricula.