Can Self-Esteem Protect the Subjective Well-Being of Women in Their 20s from the Effects of Social Media Use? The Moderating Role of Self-Esteem

This study investigates the relationship between social media use and subjective well-being among South Korean women in their 20s, with a particular emphasis on the moderating role of self-esteem. Cross-sectional data from 611 women in their 20s who had experience using social media platforms was dr...

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Main Authors: Yesolran Kim, Mina Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Behavioral Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/964
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author Yesolran Kim
Mina Lee
author_facet Yesolran Kim
Mina Lee
author_sort Yesolran Kim
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the relationship between social media use and subjective well-being among South Korean women in their 20s, with a particular emphasis on the moderating role of self-esteem. Cross-sectional data from 611 women in their 20s who had experience using social media platforms was drawn from the Korean Media Panel Survey 2021. A regression analysis revealed that increased social media use was associated with lower subjective well-being. Self-esteem acted as a moderator in the relationship between social media use and subjective well-being. Among individuals with low or medium levels of self-esteem, higher social media use was linked to decreased subjective well-being; however, for those with high self-esteem, social media use did not significantly impact subjective well-being. These findings underscore the significance of self-esteem as a protective factor in the context of social media use and its influence on the subjective well-being among women in their 20s.
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series Behavioral Sciences
spelling doaj-art-aa4902a7070e48218aa69ba6465158052025-08-20T03:32:12ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-07-0115796410.3390/bs15070964Can Self-Esteem Protect the Subjective Well-Being of Women in Their 20s from the Effects of Social Media Use? The Moderating Role of Self-EsteemYesolran Kim0Mina Lee1Department of Advertising and Public Relations, School of Media and Advertising, Kookmin University, 77 Jeongneung-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02707, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Advertising and Public Relations, School of Media and Advertising, Kookmin University, 77 Jeongneung-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02707, Republic of KoreaThis study investigates the relationship between social media use and subjective well-being among South Korean women in their 20s, with a particular emphasis on the moderating role of self-esteem. Cross-sectional data from 611 women in their 20s who had experience using social media platforms was drawn from the Korean Media Panel Survey 2021. A regression analysis revealed that increased social media use was associated with lower subjective well-being. Self-esteem acted as a moderator in the relationship between social media use and subjective well-being. Among individuals with low or medium levels of self-esteem, higher social media use was linked to decreased subjective well-being; however, for those with high self-esteem, social media use did not significantly impact subjective well-being. These findings underscore the significance of self-esteem as a protective factor in the context of social media use and its influence on the subjective well-being among women in their 20s.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/964self-esteemsocial media usesubjective well-beingwomen in their 20s
spellingShingle Yesolran Kim
Mina Lee
Can Self-Esteem Protect the Subjective Well-Being of Women in Their 20s from the Effects of Social Media Use? The Moderating Role of Self-Esteem
Behavioral Sciences
self-esteem
social media use
subjective well-being
women in their 20s
title Can Self-Esteem Protect the Subjective Well-Being of Women in Their 20s from the Effects of Social Media Use? The Moderating Role of Self-Esteem
title_full Can Self-Esteem Protect the Subjective Well-Being of Women in Their 20s from the Effects of Social Media Use? The Moderating Role of Self-Esteem
title_fullStr Can Self-Esteem Protect the Subjective Well-Being of Women in Their 20s from the Effects of Social Media Use? The Moderating Role of Self-Esteem
title_full_unstemmed Can Self-Esteem Protect the Subjective Well-Being of Women in Their 20s from the Effects of Social Media Use? The Moderating Role of Self-Esteem
title_short Can Self-Esteem Protect the Subjective Well-Being of Women in Their 20s from the Effects of Social Media Use? The Moderating Role of Self-Esteem
title_sort can self esteem protect the subjective well being of women in their 20s from the effects of social media use the moderating role of self esteem
topic self-esteem
social media use
subjective well-being
women in their 20s
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/964
work_keys_str_mv AT yesolrankim canselfesteemprotectthesubjectivewellbeingofwomenintheir20sfromtheeffectsofsocialmediausethemoderatingroleofselfesteem
AT minalee canselfesteemprotectthesubjectivewellbeingofwomenintheir20sfromtheeffectsofsocialmediausethemoderatingroleofselfesteem