Connected but alone: social media addiction and feelings of loneliness among adolescents in Tarma, Peru
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20453/rph.v19i1.8186Keywords:
adolescents, social media addiction, loneliness, interpersonal relationshipsAbstract
This study aimed to determine the relationship between social media addiction and feelings of loneliness among secondary school students at a public educational institution in Tarma (Peru). Participants were 150 male students (aged 15 to 17 years). The results revealed a significant positive relationship between social media addiction and feelings of loneliness; although this result was explained mainly by the relation between social media addiction and the sub-scale of emotional loneliness. Furthermore, a relationship was found between feelings of loneliness and the dimensions of addiction symptoms, “geek” traits, and nomophobia. These findings highlight the importance of promoting the appropriate use of digital platforms and strengthening interpersonal bonds in adolescents.
Downloads
References
Ahmad, M., Bakhtawar, M., Haider, S. y Qazi, A. (2024). Relationship of loneliness and social media addiction with gender differences among undergraduate students and psychiatric rehabilitation. Journal of Disability Research, 3(6). https://doi.org/10.57197/JDR-2024-0074
De Jong, J. y van Tilburg, T. (2010). The De Jong Gierveld short scales for emotional and social loneliness: tested on data from 7 countries in the UN generations and gender surveys. European Journal of Ageing, 7(4), 293-300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-010-0144-6
Durmuş, M., Sarman, A., Çiftci, N. y Durmuş, Y. (2025). The mediating role of hopelessness in the relationship between social media addiction and loneliness among adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 38(2), e70024. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcap.70024
Echeburúa, E. y De Corral, P. (2010). Adicción a las nuevas tecnologías y a las redes sociales en jóvenes: un nuevo reto. Adicciones, 22(2), 91-96. https://doi.org/10.20882/adicciones.196
Espinoza Ponce, C. A. y Hernández Junco, V. (2024). Percepción de soledad y adicción a las redes sociales en adolescentes. Hakiñan, Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, 24, 13-32. https://doi.org/10.37135/chk.002.24.01
Faverio, M. y Sidoti, O. (2024, 12 de diciembre). Teens, social media and technology 2024. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/12/12/teens-social-media-and-technology-2024/
Ferguson, C. J. (2009). An effect size primer: a guide for clinicians and researchers. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 40(5), 532-538. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015808
Gamboa-Melgar, G., Peña-Fuertes, Y. y Manzanares-Medina, E. (2022). Evidencias psicométricas de la Escala de Riesgo de Adicción-Adolescente en Redes Sociales e Internet en estudiantes peruanos. Revista de Psicología Clínica con Niños y Adolescentes, 9(1), 62-71. https://doi.org/10.21134/rpcna.2022.09.1.7
Griffiths, M. D. (2005). A 'components' model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. Journal of Substance Use, 10(4), 191-197. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659890500114359
Hawkley, L. C. y Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness matters: a theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 40(2), 218-227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9210-8
Hernández-Sampieri, R. y Mendoza, C. (2023). Metodología de la investigación (2.ª ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Keles, B., McCrae, N. y Grealish, A. (2020). A systematic review: the influence of social media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 79-93. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1590851
López Flores, M. del C., Sañay Moina, G. I., Borja Salazar, J. C. y Montero Ramirez, I. S. (2024). Conectados y vulnerables: el efecto de las redes sociales en la salud mental de los adolescentes de 14 a 16 años. Revista Social Fronteriza, 4(5), e-45428. https://doi.org/10.59814/resofro.2024.4(5)428
Peris, M., Maganto, C. y Garaigordobil, M. (2018). Escala de Riesgo de Adicción-Adolescente a las Redes Sociales e Internet: fiabilidad y validez (ERA-RSI). Revista de Psicología Clínica con Niños y Adolescentes, 5(2), 30-36. https://doi.org/10.21134/rpcna.2018.05.2.4
Perlman, D. y Peplau, L. A. (1981). Toward a social psychology of loneliness. En S. Duck y R. Gilmour (Eds.), Personal relationships: 3. Personal relationships in disorders (pp. 31-56). Academic Press.
Tamayo Izquierdo, M. (2023). Adicción a redes sociales y sentimiento de soledad en adolescentes de Lima [tesis de licenciatura, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas]. Repositorio Académico UPC. http://hdl.handle.net/10757/669659
Tut Anchevida, M. E. (2024). Impacto negativo del uso excesivo de las redes sociales en adolescentes de 12 a 15 años: afectación psicológica y cognitiva. Ciencia Latina. Revista Científica Multidisciplinar, 8(3), 11126-11146. https://doi.org/10.37811/cl_rcm.v8i3.12268
Utah Health (2023). Social media and teens: How to protect your child. University of Utah Health. https://healthcare.utah.edu
Valdivia, N. L. y Villalta, E. S. (2025). Adicción hacia las redes sociales y soledad en estudiantes de secundaria de un colegio público de Arequipa, 2024 [tesis de licenciatura, Universidad Tecnológica del Perú]. Repositorio Académico UTP. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12867/11351
Ventura-León, J., Caycho-Rodríguez, T., Barboza-Palomino, M. y Cáceres-Gonzales, G. (2017). Evidencia de validez y confiabilidad de una medida de soledad en adolescentes peruanos. Evaluar, 17(2), 24-35. https://doi.org/10.35670/1667-4545.v17.n2.18726
Vieira Ipince, C. M., Manzanares Medina, E. L. y Salas-Blas, E. (2022). Adicción a las redes sociales y soledad en estudiantes universitarios limeños. Informació Psicològica, (123), 2-14. https://doi.org/10.14635/IPSIC.1926
Weiss, R. S. (1973). Loneliness: The experience of emotional and social isolation. MIT Press.
Young, K. S. (1998). Internet addiction: The emergence of a new clinical disorder. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 1(3), 237-244. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.1998.1.237
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Croshan del Milagro Onofre Petancio
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles published in the Revista Psicologica Herediana are under a Creative Commons Reconocimiento 4.0 International license.
The authors retain the copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, with the work registered with the Creative Commons License, which allows third parties to use what is published whenever they mention the authorship of the work, and to the first publication in this magazine.
Authors can make other independent and additional contractual agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the version published in this journal, provided they clearly indicate that the work was published in this journal.
The authors can file in the repository of their institution:
The research work or thesis of degree from which the published article derives.
The pre-print version: the version prior to peer review.
The Post-print version: final version after peer review.
The definitive version or final version created by the publisher for publication.
