Date
6-26-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Rachel Piferi
Keywords
addiction, anxiety, depression, FoMO, problematic internet use, social comparison, social media sites, spirituality, suicide ideation, well-being
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
King, Jeffrey Leyland, "Investigating The Relationship Between Social Media Usage, Perceived Stress, Depression and Spirituality" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7159.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7159
Abstract
The rapid rise in social media usage (SMU) in the past two decades correlates with a sharp rise in depression (Dep) and self-harm in emerging adults. Many studies have focused on the aspects of diminished well-being, self-harm and suicide, and a possible association between daily spiritual experiences (DSE) and Dep, although there is a paucity of research on DSE to moderate the association. This study was guided by three theories; need-to-belong, social comparison, and cognitive dissonance. The present quantitative study aimed to explore the significance of the association between SMU, perceived stress (PS), and Dep moderated by DSE in emerging adults. Data were drawn through a questionnaire survey of emerging adults (aged 18-29) in self-report questionnaires: (1) demographic data, (2) Social Network Usage Questionnaire (Shi et al., 2014), (3) Daily Spiritual Experiences (Underwood, 2011), (4) Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression (Radloff, 1977), and (5) Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) (Cohen, 1983). Correlation and linear moderation regression were conducted to analyze responses (N=120). PS was positively correlated with SMU and negatively correlated with DSE. PS and Dep were negatively correlated with SMU in the presence of DSE. One unanticipated result was positive emotional affect for TikTok users low in DSE. This research broadly supports the work of other studies in this area. Further, it offers insights for parents, educators, mental health professionals, churches and other organizations to better understand the role of daily spiritual experiences in the presence of perceived stress and depression associated with social media usage in emerging adults.
