Psychosocial Predictors of Social Media Addiction among Adolescents in Ibadan Metropolis

Abstract

Social media addiction has emerged as a growing behavioural concern among adolescents, with evidence linking it to psychosocial stressors and maladaptive coping patterns. Despite increasing global attention, few empirical studies have examined the complex pathways leading to social media addiction within the Nigerian context. This study investigated the predictive roles of perceived stress, sleep disorders, childhood trauma, peer influence, parenting styles, and socioeconomic status on social media addiction among inschool adolescents in Ibadan metropolis. It also explored the moderating effects of gender and sexual orientation on these relationships using a path analysis approach. A crosssectional design was adopted. Through a multistage sampling procedure, 470 adolescents were drawn from secondary schools across five local government areas in Ibadan. Standardised instruments were used, including the Perceived Stress Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Peer Pressure Inventory, Parenting Style Scale, and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Perceived stress (β = 0.32, p < .001), sleep disorders (β = 0.28, p < .001), childhood trauma (β = 0.25, p < .01), peer influence (β = 0.37, p < .001), parenting styles (β = 0.21, p < .01), and socioeconomic status (β = 0.18, p < .05) significantly predicted social media addiction. Gender moderated the relationship between perceived stress and social media addiction (Δχ² = 6.12, p < .05), while sexual orientation moderated the relationship between peer influence and social media addiction (Δχ² = 5.48, p < .05). The findings indicate that social media addiction among adolescents in Ibadan is shaped by multiple psychosocial factors, with notable variations based on gender and sexual orientation. Targeted school interventions, improved parental guidance, and supportive counselling frameworks are essential to reduce excessive and problematic social media use in this population.