The Moderating Effect of Gender on the Predictive Role of Self-Esteem in Problematic Facebook Usage: A Quantitative Exploration among Undergraduates from Universities in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka

The advancement of technology has transformed face-to-face communication by transferring interactions to virtual spaces such as Facebook, which are heavily used by undergraduates and might be negative to their mental health. The present quantitative study examined the predictive role of self-esteem in the problematic use of Facebook among undergraduates from universities in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka, and how gender moderates the connection. The study was conducted using a cross-sectional design, and an online survey with 372 undergraduates. Bergen’s Facebook addiction scale was used to measure the outcome variable, problematic usage of Facebook, while the Rosenberg self-esteem scale was used to test the predictor variable, self-esteem. In the analysis, gender was evaluated as a moderator variable. Data was analyzed using Simple linear regression and logistic regression analysis via SPSS and the Process Macro tool. Every phase of the research process included a careful integration of ethical considerations. Results show that higher self-esteem is associated with higher problematic Facebook utilization; however, this relationship is statistically significant (F (1, 370) = 26.230, p<.05), and it only accounts for a small percentage of the variance (R² =.066) in problematic use of Facebook among young individuals in Sri Lanka with no gender-based moderation. A variety of psychosocial factors significantly influence the self- esteem and problematic usage of Facebook of young individuals in Sri Lanka, and this effect is consistent for both gender categories, male and female. More research on the psychological and environmental problems linked to youth utilization of social media is desperately needed in Sri Lanka. Keywords: Self-esteem; Problematic Facebook Usage; Gender