Social Networking Use and Psychological Well-Being in University Students: The Mediating Role of Need Frustration in Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62997/rl.2024.31050Keywords:
Social Networking Sites Need Frustration, Basic Psychological Needs, Self-Determination Theory, University Studen, Psychological Well-BeingAbstract
The study investigates the university students' psychological experiences of social networking site (SNS) use, as it has become more common in recent times. In this study, we situate ourselves within the theoretical approach of the Self-Determination Theory and have as an object of study the indirect effect of the use of SNS on psychological needs' satisfaction held by the intermediate variable of needs' frustration. The data were collected from 270 undergraduate students with the use of two psychometric instruments, namely the Social Media Use Scale and the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS). Results revealed that increased use of the SNS is positively related to an increased need frustration, which is in turn negatively related to an increased satisfaction with all three dimensions of the SCARF (autonomy, competence, and relatedness). The implications of these insights are important for understanding motivational vulnerabilities in digital settings, especially of emerging adults in academic settings.
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