Social Media Addiction as a Moderator Between Happiness and Leisure Boredom

Key findings from this study

• The study found that happiness significantly predicts leisure boredom perception in a positive direction.
• The researchers demonstrate that social media addiction moderated the relationship between happiness and boredom perception.
• The authors report that individuals with high social media addiction showed different patterns in how happiness related to leisure boredom compared to those with low addiction.

Overview

The study examined social media addiction as a moderating factor in the relationship between happiness and perceived boredom during leisure time. A correlational survey design gathered data from 431 youth centre members in Karaman province. The research applied confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, hierarchical regression, and multi-group analysis to test whether addiction strength influences how happiness relates to leisure boredom.

Methods and approach

Participants completed the Oxford Happiness Scale Short Form, the Perceived Boredom in Leisure Scale, and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis validated measurement instruments. Hierarchical regression analysis tested direct and moderating effects across the entire sample. Multi-group analysis compared effect patterns between high and low social media addiction subgroups.

Results

Happiness significantly predicted leisure boredom perception in a positive direction (β = .378, p < .05). Social media addiction moderated this relationship, such that the association between happiness and boredom differed based on addiction levels. Individuals with high social media addiction displayed a distinct pattern of how happiness influenced boredom perception compared to those with low addiction. Multi-group analysis confirmed these differential effects were statistically significant between addiction subgroups.

Implications

Social media addiction represents a meaningful moderator in leisure experience psychology. Interventions addressing boredom perception during leisure may require differentiated approaches depending on individual addiction severity. Higher addiction levels may create alternative pathways through which happiness influences leisure satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Understanding these mechanisms supports development of more targeted interventions for youth experiencing leisure boredom.

Scope and limitations

This summary is based on the study abstract and available metadata. It does not include a full analysis of the complete paper, supplementary materials, or underlying datasets unless explicitly stated. Findings should be interpreted in the context of the original publication.