Exploring the Relationship between Social Media Addiction and Aggression among Young Adults

The concerns about social media’s possible effects on behaviour and mental health have surfaced because of its widespread incorporation into daily life. Aim: This study investigates the relationship between young adult’s addiction to social media and their aggressive behaviour- to determine whether increased levels of aggression among users are associated with social media addiction, which is characterized by compulsive and excessive usage of digital platforms. Sample: The sample consisted of social media users(N=110), where the participants were between the age of 18–25-year-old. The sampling was based on Snowball Sampling method. Tools: The tools used were The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (Andreassen et al., 2012) and Buss- Perry Aggression Questionnaire (Buss and Perry, 1992). Research Design: The study has adopted correlational research design and inferential statistics. Through an analysis of the relationship between aggressiveness and social media addiction, this research adds to our understanding of the complexity of digital behaviour and its effects on mental health in modern society. Results: Female participants showed slightly higher Social Media Addiction levels than males, while males exhibited higher aggression levels. Older participants reported higher Social Media Addiction and Aggression levels than younger ones, with greater variability in scores among the older group. Daily Social Media users reported higher Social Media Addiction and Aggression compared to less frequent users, particularly in aggression levels. Hardcore gamers reported the highest Social Media Addiction and Aggression levels, followed by casual gamers and non-gamers. A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.449, p < 0.01) between Social Media Addiction and Aggression was observed. Overall, participants reported moderate levels of both, indicating a significant relationship among young adult.