INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION AND IDENTITY FUNCTIONS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine the relationship between university students' social media addiction levels and their identity functions and its effect on identity functions. The study group consists of a total of 405 university students, 226 (55.8%) women and 179 (44.2%) men, studying in the province of Istanbul in 2021-2022. The social media addiction scale, identity functions scale and personal information form were used as data collection tools. SPSS 22 program was used to analyze the data. The correlational model was used in this study. Pearson Product Moments Correlation Coefficients and Simple Linear Regression Analysis were used in the analysis of the data. According to the results of the research, social media addiction was found to be negatively correlated with identity functions dimensions (structural dimension, cohesion dimension, purpose dimension, future dimension and control dimension). In addition, it was found that social media addiction predicted the dimensions of identity functions (structure, adaptation, purpose, future, control) negatively and significantly. The sample of this study is limited only to students studying at universities in Istanbul. In-depth data can be obtained from later studies through qualitative methods such as the interview method.