A Study on the Interplay Between Social Media Attitudes and Spirituality in Higher Education

Social media has become a significant part of modern life, prompting concerns about its effects on young people's psychological and spiritual well-being. This study examined the relationship between college students’ attitudes toward social media and their level of spirituality within the framework of theology and student formation. Using a quantitative, descriptive-correlational design, data were collected from 372 students across various departments of a Catholic university in Pampanga, selected through stratified random sampling. Two standardized instruments were utilized: the Social Media Attitude Scale (Otrar & Argin, 2013) and the Spirituality Questionnaire (Hardt et al., 2011). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank-order correlation due to non-normal distribution. Results revealed a statistically significant but modest relationship between social media attitudes and spirituality, indicating that while social media may influence aspects such as mindfulness or the search for meaning, it is not a primary determinant of spiritual life. The findings highlight the complex, multifaceted nature of spirituality, shaped more by personal, cultural, and relational factors than digital behavior.