Degree

BS (Social Sciences & Liberal Arts)

Faculty / School

School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS)

Department

Department of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts

Date of Award

Spring 2024

Date of Submission

2024-08-05

Advisor

Dr. Ayesha Zia, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences

Project Type

SSLA Culminating Experience

Access Type

Restricted Access

Keywords

Instagram consumption, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Young Adults

Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate how self-esteem functions as a moderator in the relationship between Instagram consumption and its impact on Depression, Anxiety and Stress. Concerns regarding Instagram's possible drawbacks have grown in the last decade due to the platform's explosive growth in popularity, especially among young adults who are open to embracing technological advancements. The current discourse about the effects of Instagram usage calls for more research, especially in relation to how it affects young adults' levels of anxiety, depression and stress. This study hypothesized that there will be a significant positive correlation between Instagram Intensity and Instagram activity and depression, anxiety and stress levels in the participants. It also hypothesized that self-esteem will moderate the relationship between Instagram intensity and depression, anxiety and stress. The present research used four self-report questionnaires, the Instagram Intensity Scale, the Instagram Activity scale, the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale to gather data from a sample of 294 young adults (Males: 116, Females: 178) aged between 18 and 25 years. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23, with correlation analysis carried out between Instagram intensity and Instagram Activity, with depression, anxiety and stress. Moderation analysis was also carried out to test how self-esteem moderates the relationship between Instagram Intensity and Depression, Anxiety and Stress. The results showed that weak positive correlations exist between the variables being studied. Lastly, it was discovered that among Pakistani young adults, self-esteem does not significantly moderate the relationship between Instagram Intensity and its effects on Depression, Anxiety and Stress. The study's limitations, future research directions, and practical implications are discussed in this paper.

Pages

103

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