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Published on: May 31, 2019
Demographic and Behavioral Correlates of Social Media Addiction and Loneliness Among Young Adults in Kyrgyzstan
1Faculty of Communication, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Introduction:
Digital technologies now shape nearly every aspect of daily life, raising growing concern about how they influence people's psychological and social well-being, especially among youth in developing societies. This study examines the relationship between social media addiction and perceived loneliness among young adults in Kyrgyzstan, a rapidly digitizing Central Asian country, with a particular focus on demographic differences such as age and gender.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey design was used. Data were gathered from 426 participants aged 18-26 using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Along with correlation analysis, independent-samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine demographic variations and relational patterns.
Results:
The results showed a small yet meaningful link between social media addiction and loneliness (r = 0.161, p = 0.001). Women were more likely to display higher addiction levels, whereas men reported feeling lonelier. Participants aged 24-26 exhibited the highest loneliness scores.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that digital behavior and demographic factors may be important considerations in psychological screening and intervention strategies for young people.
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