Gym Membership Versus Non-membership Does Not Moderate The Relationship Between Social Media Addiction And Anxiety.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that social media addiction is associated with increased levels of anxiety. Conversely, participation in physical activity has been linked to a reduction in anxiety. However, the potential role of physical activity in the relationship between social media addiction with anxiety has not been evaluated. PURPOSE: To assess the potential relationships of social media addiction to anxiety in a sample of gym users versus non-gym users. METHODS: Participants (N = 188, 21.0 ± 1.71 years old, n = 114 gym users) completed a survey in which they indicated anxiety symptoms (via the Beck Anxiety Inventory), social media addiction (via the Bergen social media addiction scale), and physical activity (via the Godin-Shephard leisure-time physical activity questionnaire). Participants also self-reported whether or not they regularly exercise at a fitness center or gym. Independent samples t-tests were performed to assess the differences between gym users and non-gym users for anxiety, social media addiction, and total physical activity. Then separate correlation analyses were run to assess the relationship between social media addiction and anxiety for gym users versus non-gym users. RESULTS: Total physical activity was significantly greater (t ≥ 1.64, p ≤ 0.05) for gym users (65.4 ± 108.9 Godin score) verses non-gym users (41.0 ± 28.9 Godin score). There were no significant differences between groups for anxiety scores or social media addiction (t ≤ -0.215, p ≥ 0.234). Despite the differences in physical activity, there were similar positive and significant associations between social media addiction and anxiety in both gym users (r = 0.21, p = 0.02) and non-gym users (r = 0.23, p = 0.04). In other words, greater social media addiction scores predicted greater anxiety in both groups of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals who visit a gym regularly had greater overall levels of physical activity than non-gym users. Despite this difference, greater social media addiction similarly predicted greater anxiety for both groups. Therefore, physical activity did not moderate the relationship between social media addiction and anxiety.