Social Media, Social Pressure and Substance Use: Examining Mediating and Moderating Effects On 15–16-Year-Old Adolescents in Northern Cyprus

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between social media use, social pressure (peer pressure), and substance use among 15-16-year-old adolescents living in Northern Cyprus. Social media has the potential to increase risky behaviors in adolescents. The study was conducted with 3,860 high school students. The ESPAD scale was employed, and variables included social media time, substance use, social pressure, and family support. The study findings indicated that social pressure partially mediated adolescent alcohol and cigarette use, with peer pressure and time spent on social media increasing alcohol and cigarette use. However, this relationship was not observed for cannabis use. An unexpectedly negative relationship emerged between social media time and social pressure for cigarette use. The study demonstrated a strong protective effect of family support. The relationship between social media use and social pressure weakens in adolescents with high family support. Those with low family support, on the other hand, prioritize peer approval and become more vulnerable to social media influences. The impact of social pressure is particularly striking in alcohol use and heavy drinking. Social pressure demonstrated both the mediating and moderating effects of family support. Findings suggest that social media shapes adolescents' social worlds, but the risks of this world can be mitigated with family support. Ultimately, the relationships between social media use and substance use in adolescents are shaped by complex social and digital interactions. Preventive strategies should strengthen family support and foster social media literacy, resistance to peer pressure, and life skills. Educators, families, and policymakers should develop holistic approaches that balance the opportunities and risks of the digital age.