Social Medias Affect on Emotional Intelligence

Abstract

Examining the relationship between social media use and emotional intelligence (EQ), this study investigates the warning signs of addiction and the psychological consequences it may produce. Specifically, it explores how varying patterns of social media use, from moderate to excessive, impact well-being, self-control, and in-person sociability. Drawing on previous research surrounding behavioral addiction and emotional intelligence, the study introduces four hypotheses: (1) excessive social media use may lead to a decrease in in-person sociability; (2) excessive use will be negatively associated with self-control; (3) excessive social media use will have a negative relationship with emotionality; and (4) there will be an inverted U relationship between social media use and well-being. Prior studies suggest that while moderate engagement with social platforms may yield neutral or even beneficial mood effects, excessive usage often results in emotional dysregulation. To test these hypotheses, participants from a diverse online sample recruited via Prolific will complete the Bergan Social Media Scale, the Social Media Addiction Scale, and the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue). Previous findings link compulsive social media behavior to reduced emotional self-awareness, diminished self-control, heightened stress, and lower levels of face-to-face interaction. By analyzing these patterns, the present study aims to deepen understanding of how digital behaviors influence emotional functioning in everyday life.

This study compares previous research, and showcases our plan to continue the research through survey comparison to contribute to the field.