Evaluation of the relationship between levels of social media usage and social appearance anxiety in term of different variables in university students

The aim of this research is to analyze the relationship between social media usage and social appearance anxiety scores in terms of different variables in university students. For this purpose, the relationship between social media using levels and social appearance anxiety in university students has been examined in terms of different variables. The sample of the research was conducted of 140 university students aged between 18and 24 who live in İstanbul. The sampling group was chosen by convenient sampling method. The data gathered within the scope of the research were analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). During the research, Social Media using scale adapted to Turkish by Akın, Özbay and Baykut (1980), Social Appearance Anxiety Scale adapted to Turkish by Doğan (2010) and Personal Information Forms adapted by the researcher were used. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient was calculated and evaluated in relation to the variables in the study. SPSS statistical package program was used in analyzing the data. In accordance with the main goal of this research, the relation between social media use and social appearance anxiety level has been evaluated by means of different variables. Our findings show that, in terms of gender, level of income, branch of education, place of residence, type of university, age and parental cohort, the level of social media use, no significant relationship was obtained in relation with social appearance anxiety level. The opinion that the level of social media use might affect social appearance anxiety levels in terms of these variables has not been supported by the findings in this study. These findings were discussed in the light of current literature.