The Relationship between Social Media Usage and Emotional Expression among College Students

Abstract

Social media has become an important part of the daily lives of college students, influencing the way they communicate, experience emotions, and interact with others. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between social media usage and emotional expression among college students in Jammu, India, while also exploring gender differences. A total of 150 undergraduate students (N = 150), including both male and female participants from MIER College of Education, Jammu, were included in the study. A cross-sectional descriptive correlational research design was used. Data were collected using two standardized psychological tools: the Social Media Usage Questionnaire (SMUQ) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation, and the independent samples t-test. The findings showed that male students had a slightly higher mean score on social media usage (M = 44.10, SD = 7.61) compared to female students (M = 43.06, SD = 7.91), indicating similar levels of social media engagement between both groups. In terms of emotional expression, female students obtained a slightly higher mean PANAS score (M = 59.74, SD = 8.43) than male students (M = 59.27, SD = 10.20), reflecting only a small difference in emotional affect. Further analysis showed that gender differences in social media usage and emotional expression were limited, and the relationship between social media usage and emotional expression was weak within the present sample. The findings suggest that although social media plays an important role in the lives of college students and influences their emotional experiences; its direct connection with emotional expression may not be very strong in this group. These results have been interpreted in light of Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Model (1950), which explains how emotional behavior is shaped through the interaction between internal psychological processes and external social influences. The study highlights the importance of understanding students’ digital behavior and offers useful implications for promoting balanced social media use, emotional awareness, and psychosocial well-being among college students