SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION AND DEPRESSION IN HIGH SCHOOL TEENAGERS: THE ROLE OF FAMILY AND PEER ATTACHMENT

Abstract

This research examines the influence of social media addiction on depression in teenagers who are high school students in Thailand. The study also investigates the role of parental attachment and peer attachment on social media social media addiction. Questionnaire survey data were collected from 1000 Thai high school student in two public high schools located in the Uttaradit province. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. First, the analysis found significant support about the positive effect of social media addiction on depression. This means that the teenagers who are addicted to social media are more prone to experience depression. Secondly, the analysis found that parental attachment and peer attachment negatively affect social media addiction. This mean that the teenagers who have good relationship with parent and peer are less prone to be addicted to social media.