Parental Emotional Deprivation and Psychological Health among Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Social Media Addiction in Islamic Educational Contexts

Abstract

Introduction/Objective
This research aims to investigate the direct and indirect impacts of parental emotional deprivation on adolescents’ psychological health. The study examines the mediating role of social media addiction on the relationship between parental emotional deprivation and the adolescents’ psychological health.
Methods
The research employed a quantitative, cross-sectional correlational design with validated measurement scales to assess parental emotional deprivation, social media addiction, and psychological health. Data were gathered via an online survey from 314 adolescent students aged 15–19 years enrolled in Islamic educational institutions in Oman. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied to test the proposed model and assess the hypothesised relationships.
Results
The findings reveal that higher levels of parental emotional deprivation are associated with poorer psychological health among adolescents. Furthermore, parental emotional deprivation exerts an indirect effect on poorer psychological health through social media addiction, indicating that adolescents experiencing greater emotional deprivation are more likely to develop problematic social media use, which in turn is associated with poorer psychological well-being.. Furthermore, adolescents with higher levels of emotional deprivation from parents were found to be more likely to have problematic social media use.
Discussion
These outcomes emphasise social media addiction as a significant psychological and behavioural predictor that converts family-related emotional shortfalls to mental health risks. The research integrates family systems theory, behavioural addiction frameworks, and adolescent mental health research to better understand these dynamics within an Islamic educational setting.
Conclusion
In conclusion, addressing family emotional environments and digital behaviours can promote the mental well-being of adolescents. The findings highlight the need for parents, educators, and policymakers to support and implement early interventions targeting dysfunctional digital patterns.