Self-Esteem as A Predictor of Social Media Addiction Among Selected Secondary School Students in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of self-esteem on social media addiction among selected secondary school students in Abuja, Nigeria. The study employed a quantitative research design, collecting data from secondary school students using standardized measures of self-esteem and social media addiction. Hypothesis 1 was tested using simple linear regression analysis, while hypothesis 2 was examined through an independent samples t-test. The results revealed that self esteem was not a significant predictor of social media addiction (β = 0.229, t = 1.054, p = 0.293), indicating that differences in students’ self-esteem do not significantly explain variations in their social media usage. Similarly, the independent samples t-test showed no significant difference between male and female students in their levels of social media addiction (t = 0.682, p = 0.496), suggesting that both genders engage with social media at comparable levels. These findings imply that social media addiction among adolescents in Abuja is more influenced by environmental, social, and technological factors than by personal characteristics such as self-esteem or gender. Based on the findings, the study recommends the implementation of digital literacy programs, parental guidance, school-based interventions, and policies promoting balanced use of social media. Further research is encouraged to explore additional factors influencing social media addiction, including peer pressure, academic stress, and personality traits.