Research Objectives
In their work, Awad et al. (2022) discuss the influence of social media on the progression of loneliness. The primary objective is to dive into the complicated relationship between Orthorexia Nervosa (ON), Social Media Use Disorder (SMUD), physical activity, and loneliness, specifically among university students in Lebanon. The researchers aim to understand how social media (specifically Instagram and Tumblr) may affect the progression of ON. Additionally, the study explores the potential mediating role of loneliness in the connection between SMUD and ON.
Methodology
In terms of research design, the study adopts a cross-sectional approach. It allows the authors to capture true relationships between variables without manipulating them. The data are collected from university students using convenience sampling, which, although efficient, may limit the generalizability of the findings to a wider population (Awad et al., 2022). The researchers apply diverse statistical analyses, including confirmatory factor analyses, bivariate analysis, and mediation models.
The independent variables (IVs) include, for instance, the SMUD score, which assesses the extent of problematic and addictive social media use. Furthermore, the independent variable, time spent on social media applications, examines the relationship between the duration of social media engagement and ON (Awad et al., 2022). The dependent variable (DV) for the ON score is measured using the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS), which gauges the prevalence of orthorexic behaviors. Regarding hypotheses, the researchers propose that using specific social media platforms and greater feelings of loneliness are associated with higher ON scores.
Findings
The results demonstrate a great association between higher SMUD scores and ON, suggesting that problematic social media use may adversely influence orthorexic behaviors. Moreover, the usage of specific platforms and spending 30–60 minutes per day on social media applications are linked with higher ON scores (Awad et al., 2022). Ultimately, loneliness emerges as a crucial factor, and the impact of problematic social media use on orthorexic behaviors is, in part, explained by increased feelings of loneliness.
I believe the results support the authors’ hypotheses for several reasons. First, the work aligns with existing literature, indicating that exposure to social media, particularly on platforms like Instagram, is associated with the adoption of orthorexic behaviors (Awad et al., 2022). Second, the finding that loneliness plays a mediating role reinforces the idea that the negative impact on social interactions may worsen disordered eating patterns.
Reference
Awad, E., Rogoza, R., Gerges, S., Obeid, S., & Hallit, S. (2022). Association of social media use disorder and orthorexia nervosa among Lebanese university students: The indirect effect of loneliness and factor structure of the social media use disorder short form and the Jong-Gierveld loneliness scales. Psychological Reports, 1-20.