The Predictive Role of Social Media Addiction in Cognitive Distortions
Keywords:
Social media addiction, Cognitive distortions, University students, Gender differences, Predictive relationship
Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the level of social media addiction and cognitive distortions among university students, while also exploring potential gender differences (male/female). In addition, the study investigated the relationship between the two variables and assessed the predictive power of social media addiction in explaining cognitive distortions. Two standardized scales were administered to a sample of 161 male and female university students. The findings revealed that the level of social media addiction among the participants fell within the moderate range, suggesting frequent use tied to daily life demands, yet not reaching high levels of dependence or addictive behavior. In contrast, cognitive distortions were found to be relatively high, indicating the prevalence of maladaptive thinking patterns such as catastrophizing, overgeneralization, and selective abstraction among students. Statistical analyses further showed no significant gender differences in either social media addiction or cognitive distortions, suggesting that gender was not a determining factor in these variables. Moreover, the results confirmed a strong and statistically significant correlation between social media addiction and cognitive distortions, and demonstrated that social media addiction had a clear predictive capacity in explaining higher levels of such distortions. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the cognitive dimension linked to excessive use of social media, as this behavior can foster unhealthy thinking patterns among university students. Consequently, the study underscores the need for preventive and counseling programs that raise awareness of the psychological and cognitive risks of excessive use and provide .References
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2. Aldea, M. A., & Rice, K. G. (2006). The role of cognitive distortions in the relation between perfectionism and psychological distress. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(4), 498–510. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.4.498
3. Andreassen, C. S. (2015). Online social network site addiction: A comprehensive review. Current Addiction Reports, 2(2), 175–184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-015-0056-9
4. Andreassen, C. S., Pallesen, S., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). The relationship between addictive use of social media, narcissism, and self-esteem: Findings from a large national survey. Addictive Behaviors, 64, 287–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.03.006
5. Argyroudi, A., & Darviri, C. (2013). Cognitive distortions, stress and depression in university students. Hellenic Journal of Psychology, 10(2), 132–149.
6. Bányai, F., Zsila, Á., Király, O., Maraz, A., Elekes, Z., Griffiths, M. D., ... & Demetrovics, Z. (2017). Problematic social media use: Results from a large-scale nationally representative adolescent sample. PLoS ONE, 12(1), e0169839. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169839
7. Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International Universities Press.
8. Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. K. (1996). Manual for the Beck Depression Inventory-II. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
9. Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
10. Buysse, D. J., Reynolds, C. F., Monk, T. H., Berman, S. R., & Kupfer, D. J. (1989). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI): A new instrument for psychiatric research and practice. Psychiatry Research, 28(2), 193-213.
11. Caplan, S. E. (2007). Relations among loneliness, social anxiety, and problematic Internet use. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(2), 234–242
12. Çelik, Ç. B., & Odacı, H. (2013). The relationship between problematic Internet use and interpersonal cognitive distortions and life satisfaction in university students. Children and Youth Services Review, 35(3), 505–508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.01.001
13. Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. New York: Lyle Stuart.
14. Griffiths, M. D. (2012). Facebook addiction: Concerns, criticism and recommendations. Psychological Reports, 110(2), 518–520.
15. Hammen, C. (2005). Stress and depression. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1, 293–319.
16. Hawi, N. S., & Samaha, M. (2016). The relations among social media addiction, self-esteem, and life satisfaction in university students. Social Science Computer Review, 35(5), 576–586. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439316660340
17. Kalkan, M. (2012). The relationship between cognitive distortions and Internet addiction in Turkish adolescents. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(10), 2087–2090. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.07.010
18. Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2011). Online social networking and addiction: A review of the psychological literature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8(9), 3528–3552. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph8093528
19. Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). Social networking sites and addiction: Ten lessons learned. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(3), 311.
20. Kuzuçu, Y., & Şimşek, Ö. F. (2020). The role of cognitive distortions in interpersonal relationships: A study on university students. International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies, 7(2), 45–60
21. Özparlak, A., & Karakaya, D. (2022). The associations of cognitive distortions with Internet addiction and Internet activities in adolescents: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 35(3), 165–174.
22. Şimşek, Ö. F. (2021). Cognitive distortions as predictors of social anxiety and depression in university students. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapy, 21(3), 215–230.
23. حمري ص., & مزغراني ح. (2020). إدمان مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي وعلاقته بالتوافق الشخصي والأسري لدى الطالب الجامعي. مجلة الجامع في الدراسات النفسية والعلوم التربوية, 5(2), 605-632. https://asjp.cerist.dz/en/article/139188
24. الخفيفي، ابتسام. (2024). التشوهات المعرفية بوصفها منبئًا بالسلوك العدواني لدى المراهقين في بنغازي. مجلة كلية التربية العلمية، 14(2)، 55–74.
25. سهر نجيب عبدو علي. (2023). وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي وأبعادها التفاعلية على الشباب في محافظة عدن. المجلة الإلكترونية لجامعة عدن للعلوم الإنسانية والاجتماعية، 7(3)، 101–120.
26. صلاح الدين، لمياء عبدالرازق. (2015). مقياس التشوهات المعرفية للشباب الجامعي. مجلة الإرشاد النفسي، ع41 ، 651688 - 682.
27. الغامدي، صالح بن يحيى. (2022). وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي وعلاقتها بكل من الأعراض الاكتئابية وجودة النوم لدى طلبة جامعة الملك عبد العزيز. مجلة العلوم التربوية، 31(1)، 277–334. مسترجع من http://search.mandumah.com/Record/1308831
28. الغامدي، ع. (2020). التشوهات المعرفية وعلاقتها بالتوافق الأكاديمي والاجتماعي لدى طلاب الجامعة. مجلة جامعة الملك سعود للعلوم التربوية، 32(1)، 77–95.
29. لامية طالة. (2023). شبكات التواصل الاجتماعي والإدمان الإلكتروني: مقاربة نفسية اجتماعية. مجلة المعيار، 15(1)، 44–63.
30. مدكور، ع.، وكريري، ف. (2021). التشوهات المعرفية وعلاقتها بإدمان الإنترنت لدى طلاب الجامعة. مجلة العلوم التربوية والنفسية، 5(6)، 33–50.
Published
2025-10-17
How to Cite
Zainab Mohumad Awad Alyobi. (2025). The Predictive Role of Social Media Addiction in Cognitive Distortions. Journal of Arts, Literature, Humanities and Social Sciences, (125), 320-339. https://doi.org/10.33193/JALHSS.125.2025.1541
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