# Demographic and Behavioral Correlates of Social Media Addiction and Loneliness Among Young Adults in Kyrgyzstan

## TL;DR

Young adults in Kyrgyzstan who are more addicted to social media tend to feel lonelier, with differences observed by gender and age.

## Contribution

This study explores the relationship between social media addiction and loneliness in Kyrgyzstan's youth, highlighting demographic variations.

## Key findings

- Social media addiction is weakly but significantly linked to loneliness (r = 0.161, p = 0.001).
- Women show higher addiction levels, while men report greater loneliness.
- Participants aged 24–26 report the highest loneliness scores.

## Abstract

Digital technologies now shape nearly every aspect of daily life, raising growing concern about how they influence people's psychological and social well‐being, especially among youth in developing societies. This study examines the relationship between social media addiction and perceived loneliness among young adults in Kyrgyzstan, a rapidly digitizing Central Asian country, with a particular focus on demographic differences such as age and gender.

A cross‐sectional survey design was used. Data were gathered from 426 participants aged 18–26 using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Along with correlation analysis, independent‐samples t‐tests, one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine demographic variations and relational patterns.

The results showed a small yet meaningful link between social media addiction and loneliness (r = 0.161, p = 0.001). Women were more likely to display higher addiction levels, whereas men reported feeling lonelier. Participants aged 24–26 exhibited the highest loneliness scores.

These findings suggest that digital behavior and demographic factors may be important considerations in psychological screening and intervention strategies for young people.

This study shows that young adults in Kyrgyzstan who spend more time on social media tend to feel lonelier. Even when gender and daily media use are considered, higher social media addiction is still linked to greater loneliness. The study highlights the social effects of digital behavior.