The Moderating Role of Self-Esteem in The Relationship of Social Media Usage and Life Satisfaction Among Public University Undergraduates in Sarawak
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UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
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This study aimed to explore the moderating role of self-esteem in the relationship between social media usage and life satisfaction among public university undergraduates in Sarawak. A total of 103 students from three public universities including Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Sarawak, and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Bintulu participated in the study. Three validated instruments were used which included the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Problematic Social Network Use Questionnaire, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Results from multiple regression analysis showed that self-esteem did not significantly moderate the relationship between social media usage and life satisfaction. However, problematic social media usage was found to significantly and negatively predict life satisfaction. Interestingly, self-esteem was also a significant negative predictor of life satisfaction, suggesting a complex relationship possibly influenced by cultural and gender expectations in collectivist societies. This research highlights the importance of considering cultural and gender contexts when assessing the impact of self-esteem on well-being. Limitations include a small sample size limited to three universities in Sarawak, reduced generalisability, and low variability in self-esteem scores among participants. Additionally, cultural influences unique to East Malaysia may have shaped how participants viewed self-worth and life satisfaction. Future research should involve larger, more diverse samples and consider other moderating variables such as emotional regulation or social support.