The correlation between Instagram usage and relationship satisfaction amongst University students

At the turn of the twenty-first century, advancements in technology evolved at an exponential rate. This surge was mirrored by the rise in popularity and uptake of social networking sites (SNSs), and more recently, by Instagram, especially among emerging adults. SNSs have become an indispensable part of our daily lives and are influencing the ways individuals communicate, and develop and maintain romantic relationships. The Couple and Family Technology (CFT) Framework describes how the ecological elements of technology influence the structures and processes of romantic relationships, and is the lens through which this study was interpreted. The aim of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between Instagram use behaviours and relationship satisfaction amongst university students. This study employed a quantitative research approach and utilised a correlational research design. Participants included a sample of Nelson Mandela University students (N = 231) who were recruited through the nonprobability sampling methods of convenience and purposive sampling. Data were captured online through two measures. The biographical and Instagram use survey measured three variables, namely, frequency of Instagram usage, frequency of monitoring one’s partner’s Instagram activity, and frequency of posting behaviour. The Relationship Assessment Scale measured relationship satisfaction. Significant negative relationships were found between relationship satisfaction and frequency of Instagram usage and frequency of monitoring one’s partner’s Instagram activity. This research study contributed towards the existing body of knowledge, theoretical model, as well as insights for future lines of study within the realm of cyberpsychology.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 202