The relationship between social media addiction and relationship satisfaction: Evaluating the mediating role of psychological distress and the moderating role of social comparison orientation

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between social media addiction and relationship satisfaction, and the potential mediating role of psychological distress and moderating role of social comparison orientation. The objective is to examine the relationship between social media addiction and relationship satisfaction through the lens of social comparison theory. Methods: The data were collected online from a sample of 282 participants all of whom were adults over 18, in a romantic relationship and use social media. The following forms and scales were presented to the participants: "Informed Consent Form", "Sociodemographic Information Form", "Relationship Assessment Scale", "Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale", "INCOM-T Social Comparison Orientation Scale" and "Social Media Addiction Scale-Adult Form". The following analyses were used to analyze the data: independent samples t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, linear regression and mediation and moderation analyses through PROCESS analysis. Results: Results indicate that social media addiction negatively predicts relationship satisfaction. Social media addiction positively predicts psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress). Psychological distress negatively predicts relationship satisfaction. Psychological distress was found to mediate the relationship between social media addiction and relationship satisfaction. No statistically significant moderation of the relationship between social media addiction and relationship satisfaction by social comparison orientation was found. Gender differences were not found for any of the variables. Married participants reported lower anxiety levels compared to those in a romantic relationship. Participants with children reported lower relationship satisfaction, social comparison orientation and anxiety levels. Participants' age was found to correlate negatively with relationship satisfaction, social comparison orientation, social media addiction and psychological distress. The duration of the participants' current relationship was negatively correlated with social comparison orientation, social media addiction and their anxiety levels. Daily time spent on social media was positively correlated with social media addiction and social comparison orientation. Conclusion: Social media addiction negatively predicts relationship satisfaction and psychological distress mediates the relationship between social media addiction and relationship satisfaction. Social comparison orientation does not moderate this relationship. Results do not support the hypotheses based around social comparison theory. Further research regarding this relationship is needed for more conclusive results.