Cross-Lagged Structural Equation Modeling of Loneliness, Problematic Social Media Use, Self-Esteem, and Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents
Keywords:
Adolescents, Loneliness, Problematic Social Media Use, Self-Esteem, Depressive SymptomsAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the reciprocal longitudinal relationships among loneliness, problematic social media use, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms across three measurement waves among adolescents in Slovenia.
Methods and Materials: A three-wave longitudinal correlational design was conducted with 612 Slovenian adolescents aged 13–18 years (M = 15.47, SD = 1.36). Participants completed assessments at baseline, six months, and twelve months. Loneliness was measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, problematic social media use using the Social Media Disorder Scale, self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, confirmatory factor analysis, longitudinal measurement invariance testing, and cross-lagged structural equation modeling. Missing data were handled using full information maximum likelihood estimation, and age and gender were included as covariates.
Findings: The final structural model showed good fit, χ²(432) = 861.37, CFI = .956, TLI = .948, RMSEA = .040, and SRMR = .046. All four constructs demonstrated significant temporal stability across both intervals. Loneliness predicted greater subsequent problematic social media use (β = .18 and .20), lower self-esteem (β = −.17 and −.18), and higher depressive symptoms (β = .21 and .22; all p < .001). Reverse effects were also significant, with problematic social media use, lower self-esteem, and depressive symptoms predicting later loneliness. Problematic social media use predicted lower subsequent self-esteem and higher depressive symptoms, while self-esteem and depressive symptoms showed significant reciprocal effects across both intervals. Equality-constrained analyses indicated that the principal cross-lagged effects were stable across time.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that loneliness, problematic social media use, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms form a reciprocal and relatively stable longitudinal network during adolescence, with loneliness emerging as a particularly important prospective predictor of later psychosocial difficulties.
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