The investigation of mediating role of cognitive distortions in the relationship between social media addiction level and depression level among young adults

Social media addiction is one of the newest problems of our age Unconscious use of social media applications can cause psychological disorders as well as negative effects on individuals. Depressive disorders are one of the most common psychological disorders caused by social media addiction. Cognitive distortions are of great importance in the formation of depressive disorders. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the level of social media addiction and depression, as well as to explore the mediating role of cognitive distortions (mind reading, catastrophizing, bipolar (all or nothing) thinking, reaching conclusions from emotion, labeling, mental filtering, overgeneralization, personalization, imperative statements (-must, -have to), underestimate or ignore the positive ). The sample of the study, in which the relational survey model, one of the quantitative research models, was used, consists of 386 people, 289 women and 97 men, between the ages of 18-65, living in Turkey.In this study "Social Media Addiction Scale, Cognitive Distortions Scale, Socio-Demographic Information Form and Beck Depression Scale" were used. As a result of the research, it was determined that there was a significant relationship between the participants' social media addiction levels, depression levels and cognitive distortions. In addition, it has been determined that all cognitive distortions (mind-reading, catastrophizing, bipolar (all or nothing) thinking, reaching conclusions from emotion, labeling, mental filtering, overgeneralizing, personalization, imperative statements (must, have to), underestimate or ignore the positive) have a partial mediator role in the effect of social media addiction level on depression level. The results of the analysis were discussed within the scope of the literature and suggestions were presented for the studies to be carried out.