The relationship between social media addiction and romantic relationship satisfaction in adults

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between social media addiction and romantic relation satisfaction in adults. In particular, it aims to examine whether there is a relationship between the aims of social media usage, social media addiction and perceived romantic relation satisfaction in adults. This is a qualitative study, and the data were analyzed by using the relational satisfaction screening model. The participants were adults living in İstanbul in the 2020-2021 academic year. The age of the participants ranges between 20 to 40. In total 424 adults, 211 male (49.8 %) and 213 female (50.2 %), participated the study. Convenient sampling method was used to reach the sample size in the study. As a data collection instrument, a personal information form was used. The form included the variables of age, gender, amount of social media usage, romantic relation status and flirting on the internet. The perceived romantic relation was measures by using the "perceived romantic relation scale". In measuring social media addiction, the "social media addiction scale" and in measuring the aims of social media usage the "social media usage aims scale" were used. Forms and scales were prepared by using the "Google forms" site, an online survey platform, and a link was sent to the participants. SPSS 25 statistical package was used to analyze the data obtained in the study. The findings of the study show that in terms of gender, there was a statistically significant difference in the level of perceived romantic relationship quality. A statistically significant difference was found between the duration of the individuals' relationship and romantic relationship satisfaction, commitment, intimacy, trust, passion and love. When the results of the participants' social media usage purposes were examined, there was no significant difference in terms of the personal characteristics of the individuals, but the only significant difference was according to gender. In terms of the variable of flirting on the social media, a statistically significant difference was found between initiating communication and entertainment purposes, which were the sub-categories of the purposes of social media usage. No significant results were obtained regarding the individuals' flirting on the internet behavior and social media addiction. It was found that the participants' purposes of social media use had a significant effect ın their romantic relation satisfaction. While there was a significant relationship between social media use and romantic relation, it was found that less social media use had less effect on the individuals' romantic relation satisfaction. There was no significant difference when the participants' social media usage was evaluated in terms of gender and age. Participants aged between 20-29 made the most use of social media, and individuals between the ages of 30-40 were seen to use social media less. While there was a significant difference between the flirting status of individuals with increased social media use, it was observed that individuals with less social media use were less likely to flirt over social media. When the relationship between the participants' perceived romantic relationship satisfaction, social media usage purposes scale and social media addiction was examined; it was seen that adults' social media use purposes are a factor affecting perceived romantic relationship satisfaction, whereas social media addiction was not found to affect perceived romantic relationship satisfaction. Accordingly, this study reveals that of the individuals' social media use purposes, research and cooperation purposes have a positive increasing effect on perceived romantic relationship satisfaction, However, it has a negative effect on perceived romantic relationship satisfaction for the purpose of initiating communication. Virtual tolerance and virtual communication, which are sub-dimensions of the social media addiction scale, do not explain perceived romantic relationship satisfaction. Hence, in this study no relationship was found between social media addiction and romantic relationship satisfaction.