ArticleBMJ public health2026
Social media use modalities and self-esteem among Saudi youth and middle-aged adults: a community-based cross-sectional study.
Article in BMJ public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to assess the levels and patterns of social media use among Saudi adolescents and middle-aged adults, evaluate associations with self-esteem and identify which usage modalities (image-based, comparison-based, belief-based, consumption-based) are differentially linked to low self-esteem. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 600 Saudi participants aged 14-50 years. The questionnaire included demographic and lifestyle items, medical history, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Social Media Use Scale (SMUS). Logistic regression models assessed predictors of low self-esteem and comparison-based use. Results: Participants reported high social media engagement, with 68.5% using it over 4 hours per day. Comparison-based and consumption-based modalities were most frequent. Low self-esteem was observed in 16.2% of participants and independently predicted by younger age (OR=0.96, 95% CI 0.92 to 0.99), low socioeconomic status (OR=3.00, 1.45 to 6.19), mental health history (OR=2.02, 1.15 to 3.53), unhealthy diet (OR=2.10, 1.01 to 4.34) and high comparison-based use (OR=4.93, 2.58 to 9.43). Moderate and high Snapchat use were associated with lower odds of low self-esteem. Comparison-based use was further associated with unhealthy diet, low spirituality, thyroid disorders and >8 hours of daily use. Conclusion: Comparison-based social media use is a strong and independent predictor of low self-esteem, underscoring the importance of analysing usage patterns over mere frequency or platform type. These findings support the need for targeted interventions focusing on at-risk modalities of social media engagement. The results hold implications for youth-focused digital literacy, mental health prevention strategies and culturally informed psychosocial support in the Saudi context.
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