The effect of short video addiction on peer relations, loneliness and happiness level in high school students

This study was conducted in a descriptive and correlational type to determine the effect of short video addiction on peer relationships, loneliness and happiness levels in high school students. The research was conducted with high school students studying in 3 different Anatolian high schools in Mamak district of Ankara province in the 2023-2024 academic year. The universe of the research consists of 1617 students and the sample group consists of 752 students. The number of students to be taken from the three schools was determined by the stratified sample selection method. Personal Information Form, Short Video Addiction Scale, Peer Relationship Scale, Loneliness Scale and Happiness Scale were used in the collection of data. IBM SPSS 25 package program was used in the analysis of the data. Descriptive statistical methods such as number, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used in the evaluation of the data. The normal distribution of the data was analyzed through skewness and kurtosis values. t test and Oneway ANOVA test were used in independent groups where the data were normally distributed. According to the findings obtained from the research, the students' short video addiction scale total score average was determined as 24.63±8.01 (medium), the peer relations scale total score average was 108.92±19.40 (high), the loneliness scale total score average was 24.40±4.38 (medium), and the happiness scale total score average was 21.40±5.52 (high). It was found that there was a significant difference between gender, mother's education status, father's education status, academic success level, short video watching status, daily short video watching time, the place where short videos were watched the most and the short video addiction score average (p<0.05). A positive moderate relationship was found between the students' short video addiction total score and loneliness level (p<0.05), a negative high level relationship between happiness (p<0.05), and a negative high level relationship between peer relations (p<0.05). As a result, it can be said that as the students' short video addiction level increases, the level of loneliness increases, and their happiness and peer relationships decrease. In this context, it is recommended that other factors, especially short video addiction, that are effective on peer relationships, loneliness and happiness levels be determined, their relationships with each other be investigated, and studies be conducted to increase awareness about the related factors.