Relationship between social media addiction and appearance-related social media consciousness in Turkish adolescents.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between social media addiction and appearance-related social media consciousness in adolescents. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was conducted in a relational-cross-sectional-descriptive model. The population of the study consists of high schools located in a provincial center in the eastern of Turkey. Cluster sampling method was applied, and the study was completed with 1009 adolescents. The research data were collected by using personal information form, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale and Adolescents' Appearance-Related Social Media Consciousness Scale. RESULTS: It was determined that the mean scores of adolescents' social media addiction and appearance-related social media consciousness were at a moderate level. It was determined that female adolescents had higher mean scores of social media addiction and appearance-related social media consciousness. The model established with structural equation modelling was found to be compatible with social media usage time, which was found to be related to the level of social media addiction and appearance-related social media consciousness. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that there was a significant positive relationship between social media addiction and appearance-related social media consciousness. Time spent using social media was found to be a predictor of addiction and social media consciousness about appearance. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Pediatric nurses can educate adolescents about the potential risks of excessive use of social media and help them to act consciously. Suggest implementing school-based interventions to educate adolescents, especially females, about healthy social media use.