The mediating effect of psychological problems on the relationship between social media addiction and eating disorder in university student women aged 18-30

This study was conducted in accordance with the relational screening model in order to evaluate the mediating effect of psychological problems on the relationship between social media addiction and eating disorders in university student women between the ages of 18-30. The population of the study consists of women between the ages of 18-30 who are studying at universities in Turkey in the 2023-2024 academic year. The sample of the research consists of a total of 201 individuals whose simple random sampling method is defined as the sampling method in which the units to be included in the research are selected completely randomly from the universe Participants participated in the study voluntarily and no specific identification information was obtained. The data were collected by online questionnaire application, and the Sociodemographic Information Form (SBF), Brief Symptom Inventory (KSE), Eating Attitude Test Short Form (YTT-22), and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMBS) were included in the applied questionnaire, respectively. SPSS 27 statistical program was used in the study and all of the analyzes were evaluated at 95% confidence interval and p<0.05 significance level. When compared to the lowest and highest scores (6-30 points) that can be obtained, it can be said that the participants generally have above-average social media addiction. Compared to the lowest and highest scores (0-66 points) that can be obtained, it can be said that the participants are at a low level in terms of eating disorder symptoms. In addition, in the sub-dimensions of eating disorders; It is possible to make a similar assessment for eating preoccupation, restriction and social pressure. When the psychological problems evaluated under the BSI were compared to the lowest and highest scores (0-4 points), the psychological problem scores of the participants were evaluated at a low level in general. In addition, when the sub-dimensions under psychological problems were examined, it was seen that depression stood out from the others, followed by hostility, negative self, anxiety and somatization. At the end of the study, a moderate positive and significant relationship was found between social media addiction and eating disorder. Accordingly, it has been determined that there is a moderate positive and significant relationship between social media addiction and psychological problems. In addition, when the relationships between social media addiction and psychological problems sub-dimensions were examined, it was found that all of the relationships between social media addiction and negative self, somatization, depression, anxiety and hostility were moderately positive and significant. It has been determined that there is a moderate positive and significant relationship between psychological problems and eating disorders. It has been decided that psychological problems have a "partial mediating role" in the relationship between social media addiction and eating disorder. The participants' levels of social media addiction, eating disorders and psychological problems did not differ significantly according to marital status and employment status. However, the levels of social media addiction, eating disorders and psychological problems of the participants who used social media for more than 3 hours a day were found to be significantly higher than those who used it for less time. Whether the participants had received a psychological diagnosis before; There was no significant relationship with social media addiction and eating disorders, but the level of psychological problems of the participants who had received a previous psychological diagnosis was found to be significantly higher than those who did not. Keywords: Social media addiction, Eating disorder, Psychological problems