Bidirectional relationships of fears related to death and appearance-based rejection with social media addiction in emerging adults: A one-year longitudinal study

Key Points

• Social media addiction significantly correlates with fears related to death and appearance-based rejection, impacting well-being.
• Over the one-year study, key metrics reveal strong bidirectional relationships among anxiety, rejection, and social media behavior.
• Longitudinal study assesses trends among emerging adults, tracking shifts in social media usage and emotional responses.
• These findings highlight the importance of addressing mental health to mitigate social media addiction risks in young adults.