Addiction to social networks in high school students: relationship with anxiety, gender, age and ethnicity

Abstract

Social media addiction in students manifests itself through compulsive and excessive use of digital platforms, which can result in loss of interest in other activities, social isolation, decreased academic performance, and increased anxiety. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship of addiction to social networks with anxiety, gender, age and ethnic self-definition of high school students. Methodologically, the present study is relational and predictive; Two instruments were used: The adapted Social Network Addiction Test and the Anxiety Self-Assessment Scale; These instruments were applied to a sample of 2901 high school students from 10 public educational institutions, out of a universe of 3789 students. After doing the linear regression, the final model of the equation was obtained in which the dimensions of addiction to social networks and sex are predictors of anxiety; furthermore, it was found that there are some significant differences between each of the dimensions of network addiction with gender, age and ethnic self-definition. As a relevant conclusion, it is determined that it suggests that a greater obsession with social networks, feeling unable to control their behavior on social networks and excessive use of social networks may be a significant source of increased anxiety in high school students.

Keywords:

Social networks, Sex, Age, Ethnic self-definition.