Examination of the predictor role of the social media anxiety on the social media addiction of the universtiy students

In this research, the relationship between the social media addiction and the social media anxiety, and the predictive role of the social media anxiety on the social media addiction have been examined. In addition, the correlational survey model has been used out of the general survey models. The study group of the research has been formed with the students who were already studying in Harran University in 2018-2019 term, by using the convenience sampling method of the non-probability sampling methods. 382 students have participated to the research. "The Social Addiction Scale - Adult Form" which has been developed by Alkış, Kadirhan ve Sat (2017) and "The Social Anxiety Scale for the Social Media Users" which has been developed by Şahin ve Yağcı (2017) have been used as the data collection tools of the research. The Person correlation analysis has been used to test the relation between the conditions in the social media anxiety and the social media addiction and the multiple-linear regression analysis has been conducted to examine the predictive role of the social media anxiety of the students over their social media addictions. With respect to the findings of the research, there is a positive and meaningful relation (.33) between the social media addiction and the social anxiety, and there is an important and predictive role of the content anxiety which is a sub-dimension of the social anxiety of the students, over the virtual tolerance (.34) and the virtual communication (.34) addiction which are the sub-dimensions of the social media addiction.In the light of these findings, it is important to prioritize the studies related to the triggering factors of the social media use of the young which could cause addiction and to the studies related to the determination of the preventive elements. Key words: Social media anxiety, social anxiety, university students