The relationship of social media addiction and aggressive behavior
Armine H. Iskajyan
Khachatur Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University, Yerevan, Armenia
Yerevan Haybusak University, Yerevan, Armenia
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Social networks, being an integral part of modern life, provide an opportunity to communicate with friends and relatives, exchange information, share news, and express yourself. However, social networks have their downsides and can be addictive.
Aim: The aim of the article is to determine whether social media addiction (SMA) can lead to aggression.
Methods: The issue of SMA is of particular concern to parents, teachers, psychologists, and doctors. The latter are especially concerned about teenagers spending too much time online. Therefore, the target group for the research was 12-17 year-olds. Specifically, 165 adolescents participated in the study: 90 girls and 75 boys. In the conducted research, the “Internet Addiction Test” by Young, the method of psychological interview, and the “Personality Aggressiveness and Conflictuality” methodology by Ilyin and Kovalyov were utilized.
Results: The findings revealed that SMA among teenagers is as high as 65%. Research participants actively use social networks for communication purposes. Additionally, the study confirmed the initial hypothesis: adolescents with SMA exhibit higher levels of personality aggressiveness and conflictuality than those without SMA.
Conclusion: This article holds significant practical importance because SMA is a relatively recent phenomenon, and the current scientific literature on this subject is scarce. Additionally, the relationship between SMA and aggression in Armenia has not been previously examined.
Keywords: social media, aggressiveness, conflictuality, adolescence, addiction, Internet