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Survey Paper | Psychology | Volume 15 Issue 9, September 2026 | Pages: 797 - 801 | India
Social Media Use, Self-Esteem, and Loneliness among Emerging Adults
Abstract: This study explored the correlation between social media integration, self-esteem, and loneliness in emerging adults in India. A quantitative, cross-sectional design involving correlational analysis with a sample size of 50 participants aged between 19 and 29 years (33 males and 17 females) was used, selected via convenience and snowball sampling technique. The data was collected using an online survey that included the SMUIS, RSES, and UCLA Loneliness Scale, Version 3. Statistical analyses including descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Pearson correlations, and simple linear regression analysis were conducted in IBM SPSS Statistics. There was no significant relationship between social media integration and self-esteem, r(48) = -.025, p = .864, or loneliness, r(48) = .003, p = .983, as well as no significant prediction of self-esteem and loneliness by social media integration. Self-esteem and loneliness correlated very weakly in a negative direction but without achieving significance, r(48) = -.252, p = .077. Therefore, it appears that aggregate social media integration is not adequate to account for individual differences in self-esteem and loneliness.
Keywords: social media use, self-esteem, loneliness, emerging adults
How to Cite?: Joseph K. J., Chethana R Acharya, "Social Media Use, Self-Esteem, and Loneliness among Emerging Adults", Volume 15 Issue 9, September 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 797-801, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26911143954, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26911143954