Instagram Addiction and Materialism in Youth: The Mediating role of Susceptibility to Interpersonal Influence

Maida Qureshi; Dr. Farah Malik

doi:10.5281/

Authors

Maida Qureshi Lecturer (Psychology), Beaconhouse International College, Lahore Author
Dr. Farah Malik Professor, Institute of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/

Keywords:

Instagram addiction, susceptibility, interpersonal influence, materialism, youth

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the relationship between Instagram addiction, susceptibility to interpersonal influence and materialism in youth.

Research question: It was hypothesized that there would be a positive relationship among these variables. Further, susceptibility to interpersonal influence would mediate the relationship between Instagram addiction and materialism.

Research Methodology: A sample of 153 young adults was drawn with an age range of 18-25 years (M = 21.86, SD = 2.06) using convenient sampling. Assessment measures including, The Instagram Addiction Scale (TIAS; Sholeh and Rusdi 2019), Susceptibility to Interpersonal Influence Scale (Bearden et al. 1989), and Material Values Scale (MVS; Richins 2004), were administered.

Results: The results of Pearson correlation suggested that Instagram addiction had a significant positive correlation with susceptibility to interpersonal influence and materialism in youth. The results of Multiple hierarchical regression suggested that the Instagram addiction and susceptibility to interpersonal influence were significant positive predictor of materialism in youth. Sobel z-test for mediation indicated that susceptibility to interpersonal influence and informational influence significantly mediated the relationship between Instagram addiction and materialism. Results of independent sample t-test indicated that there were no significant gender differences found among study variables except for the normative influence where females scored significantly higher than the males.