The Mediating Role of Physical Activity in the Relationship Between Social Anhedonia and Social Media Addiction in Young Adults

vol.3, no.3, pp.109-116, 2025 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)

Purpose: Addictive social media use is becoming increasingly common among young adults, leading to a shift in attention

away from physical activities and towards a more sedentary lifestyle. In recent years, there has been increasing awareness that

social anhedonia may play a critical role in the overuse of social media. The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role

of physical activity in the relationship between social anhedonia and social media addiction.

Methods: A total of 218 college students (mean age= 21.39 ± 1.75) completed the questYonnaires. Bergen SocYal MedYa

AddYctYon Scale (BSMAS), RevYsed SocYal AnhedonYa Scale (RSAS) and InternatYonal PhysYcal ActYvYty Scale-Short Form

(IPAQ-SF) used to assess socYal medYa addYctYon, socYal anhedonYa, and level of physYcal actYvYty respectYvely. MedYatYon

analyses were conducted by usYng PROCESS macro in the SPSS software.

Results: BSMAS and RSAS scores were statYstYcally sYgnYfYcantly correlated (r=0.242 p<0.001). IPAQ-SF were also found to

be statistically significantly associated with RSAS score (r=-0.138 p=0.042). When IPAQ-SF level Ys Yncluded Yn the sYgnYfYcant

relatYonshYp between RSAS and BSMAS scores, Yt was shown to play a medYatYng role.

Discussion: This study shows that physical activity mediates the relationship between social anhedonia and social media

addiction in university students. ThYs relatYonshYp hYghlYghts the potentYal preventYve role of physYcal actYvYty Yn mYtYgatYng socYal

medYa addYctYon among YndYvYduals experYencYng anhedonYa. Future research could develop comprehensive intervention

strategies that examine the effects of social programs aimed at increasing participation in physical activity on face-to-face

communication and digital addiction.