The Impact of Social Media Addiction on Mental Depression Among Youth in Klang Valley: A Quantitative Study

This study aimed to determine the relationship between mental depression and its association with social media addiction among Malaysian youth. The research used a cross-sectional survey design, and a self-reported structured questionnaire was used to collect data, including demographic data and the Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS), which measured the intensity of social media addiction, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) was administered to a sample of 390 Malaysian youth in Klang Valley. The data analysis was carried out using the 29th SPSS software version. The Pearson correlation was used to determine the relationship between social media addiction and mental depression. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation and a moderate level of social media addiction (p = 0.3009) and (M=2.80) towards mental depression (M=2.41). The moderating analysis demonstrates that female youths in Klang Valley have a greater correlation between social media addiction and mental depression than males. Theoretical grounding involved Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT), which shows females may use social media more to meet their requirements for social connection, self-expression, and emotional support. When these gratifications are pursued excessively, they can lead to obsessive behaviour. Thus, UGT helps to explain why gender differences exist, as females’ greater reliance on gratification-seeking behaviours may increase the risk of social media addiction. This study aims to shed light on the complex interplay between psychological factors and social media use, with the ultimate goal of identifying potential interventions to mitigate negative outcomes.