Study links social media addiction to worse student mental health and points to family as a key buffer

By Vijay Kumar MalesuReviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Mar 25 2026

Social media addiction was linked to higher anxiety and depression in Saudi university students, but the study suggests family environment may be a key factor shaping how strongly those mental health effects appear.

Study: The effects of social media addiction on depression and anxiety among university students: The mediating role of family environment. Image Credit: Vectorium / Shutterstock

In a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports, a group of researchers examined the relationship between social media addiction (SMA), depression, and anxiety, and evaluated the mediating role of the family environment among university students.

Prevalence of Social Media Addiction in Youth

What happens when scrolling becomes a coping mechanism rather than a habit? As SMA is affecting roughly 17-27% of youths in studies from China, the United States (US), Japan, and Turkey, the issue of mental health is increasing at a very high rate.

Studies also show that excessive social media use correlates with depression and anxiety due to ongoing comparisons with others as well as reliance on social media for emotional support. Social media addiction is not classified as an official disorder by the American Psychiatric Association (APA); however, the World Health Organization’s inclusion of gaming disorder in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) has intensified debate over behavioral addictions. Cultural and family contexts may shape these effects differently across populations. Further research is needed to understand these dynamics in diverse, non-Western settings.

Study Design and Saudi University Sample

In the study, data were collected using a cross-sectional survey of university students in Saudi Arabia. Students were selected for inclusion using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method to ensure representation from several geographic regions, including Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran. The target population consisted of full-time university students aged 18 to 26; part-time students and those working full-time were excluded to maintain consistency among participants. Of the original 700 subjects included in the study, 627 provided valid responses for analysis after the data of individuals who did not submit complete responses were excluded.

Data were collected through structured, paper-based questionnaires with trained personnel assistance. SMA was assessed by the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), which assesses behavior such as preoccupation, withdrawal, and relapse. Family environment was measured using the Brief Family Relationship Scale (BFRS), which assesses cohesion, expressiveness, and conflict. Psychological outcomes were evaluated via the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-14 (DASS-14), which measures symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were applied to test relationships and model fit, with indices such as comparative fit index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis index (TLI), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) guiding model evaluation.

Associations Between Social Media Use and Mental Health

The findings revealed significant associations between SMA and mental health outcomes, highlighting patterns that are increasingly relevant in everyday student life. Higher SMA was associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. Data shows that SMA is moderately linked with anxiety (r = 0.41, p < 0.001) and depression (r = 0.37, p < 0.001).

Family Environment and Psychological Well-Being

Family environment also plays a critical role in mental health. The family environment was also significantly correlated with anxiety (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) and depression (r = 0.31, p < 0.001), indicating that family context may be important for students’ emotional well-being. This suggests that family environment may help shape how social media use relates to mental health.

Structural Equation Modeling and Mediation Effects

The measurement model analysis supported the validity and reliability of the constructs. The goodness-of-fit was also supported by the model fit indices, with CFI = 0.91, TLI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.05, and SRMR = 0.04 indicating good fit.

The findings from SEM give greater clarity to the relationships assessed. Results from SMA provided significant direct effects of social media dependence on both depression (β = 0.431, p < 0.01) and anxiety (β = 0.312, p < 0.01), validating previous findings that higher levels of social media dependence would be associated with poorer mental health. However, when the family environment was introduced into the model, these direct effects became non-significant. Instead, the indirect effects through family environment remained significant, indicating full mediation.

Role of Family Dynamics in Mediating Effects

This means that the impact of SMA on depression and anxiety operates largely through family dynamics. In practical terms, students in supportive and communicative family environments may be better protected against the negative emotional consequences of excessive social media use. Conversely, less supportive family settings may amplify these risks.

The authors also emphasized that the Saudi, non-WEIRD context is important because family relationships may play a particularly central role in shaping young adults’ responses to online engagement in collectivist settings.

Implications for Mental Health and Digital Well-Being

The findings show that SMA is significantly associated with increased depression and anxiety among university students, but these effects are fully mediated by the family environment. The effects of family connections and functioning on mental health may help protect individuals from psychological distress associated with excessive use of social media.

Creating family-centric approaches to address today's mental health issues and overall digital wellness issues may be considered a priority for universities, policymakers, and families. 

By working collaboratively to encourage positive digital interactions between family members and to promote emotional resilience through open communication and balanced use of technology, stakeholders can help protect student mental health in our ever-increasingly digital world.

Study Limitations and Future Research Needs

The study also has important limitations. Because it was cross-sectional, the findings cannot establish causality. The measures were self-reported, the sample was drawn from four public universities in Saudi Arabia, and the depression and anxiety outcomes reflected symptoms rather than clinical diagnoses. The authors also noted that their common-method bias test should be interpreted cautiously and that future research should use more robust approaches.