Development of a Model of Social Media Addiction Based on Autonomy-Supportive Environment and Cognitive Abilities: The Mediating Role of Core Self-Evaluations
Keywords:
Social media addiction, Autonomy-supportive environment, Cognitive abilities, Core self-evaluations, Undergraduate students, Structural equation modelingAbstract
This study aimed to develop and test a structural model of social media addiction based on autonomy-supportive environment and cognitive abilities, examining the mediating role of core self-evaluations among undergraduate students. This applied study employed a descriptive-correlational design using structural equation modeling. The population comprised undergraduate students at Shiraz University during the 2025–2026 academic year. Using multistage cluster random sampling, 310 students were initially recruited, and 286 valid questionnaires were retained for analysis. Data were collected using the Social Networking Addiction Scale (Shahnavaz & Rahman, 2020), Cognitive Abilities Questionnaire (Nejati, 2013), Autonomy-Supportive Environment Scale (Assor et al., 2002; Assor, 2012), and Core Self-Evaluations Scale (Judge et al., 2003). Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 27 and AMOS 27, incorporating structural equation modeling and bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples to examine indirect effects. Structural equation modeling revealed significant positive associations between autonomy-supportive environment (β = 0.34, p = .001) and cognitive abilities (β = 0.42, p = .001) with core self-evaluations. Autonomy-supportive environment (β = −0.22), cognitive abilities (β = −0.26), and core self-evaluations (β = −0.41) demonstrated significant negative direct associations with social media addiction (p = .001). Bootstrap analyses confirmed significant indirect associations through core self-evaluations for autonomy-supportive environment (β = −0.14) and cognitive abilities (β = −0.17), both p = .001. The model explained 47% of the variance in core self-evaluations and 38% in social media addiction, demonstrating satisfactory fit (CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.04). Autonomy-supportive environments and cognitive abilities are associated with lower social media addiction, both directly and indirectly through core self-evaluations. These findings support integrated university-based prevention strategies emphasizing autonomy support, cognitive competencies, and positive self-evaluations.
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Copyright (c) 1404 Nahid Jalilzadeh, Fatemeh Dadvand (Author); Gholamhossien Maktabi (Corresponding author)
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