Social media use modalities and self-esteem among Saudi youth and middle-aged adults: a community-based cross-sectional study
Sami S Alharthi, Hatim Y Alharbi, Abdulaziz A Qrmli, Khalid H Yousef, Abdulaziz M Abudasser, Sobhia N Abanmi, Amal K Almutairi, Lujain B Albarkheel, Aseel S Alotaibi, Shaden B Almutairi, Manar M Almania, Sarah M Alotaibi, Ghadah M AlmutairiIntroduction
This study aimed to assess the levels and patterns of social media use among Saudi adolescents and middle-aged adults, evaluate associations with self-esteem and identify which usage modalities (image-based, comparison-based, belief-based, consumption-based) are differentially linked to low self-esteem.
Methods
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 600 Saudi participants aged 14–50 years. The questionnaire included demographic and lifestyle items, medical history, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Social Media Use Scale (SMUS). Logistic regression models assessed predictors of low self-esteem and comparison-based use.
Results
Participants reported high social media engagement, with 68.5% using it over 4 hours per day. Comparison-based and consumption-based modalities were most frequent. Low self-esteem was observed in 16.2% of participants and independently predicted by younger age (OR=0.96, 95% CI 0.92 to 0.99), low socioeconomic status (OR=3.00, 1.45 to 6.19), mental health history (OR=2.02, 1.15 to 3.53), unhealthy diet (OR=2.10, 1.01 to 4.34) and high comparison-based use (OR=4.93, 2.58 to 9.43). Moderate and high Snapchat use were associated with lower odds of low self-esteem. Comparison-based use was further associated with unhealthy diet, low spirituality, thyroid disorders and >8 hours of daily use.
Conclusion
Comparison-based social media use is a strong and independent predictor of low self-esteem, underscoring the importance of analysing usage patterns over mere frequency or platform type. These findings support the need for targeted interventions focusing on at-risk modalities of social media engagement. The results hold implications for youth-focused digital literacy, mental health prevention strategies and culturally informed psychosocial support in the Saudi context.