ISSN 2215-3535

Actualidades en Psicología, 37 (135), July-December, 2023, 111-127

DOI: 10.15517/ap.v37i135.51265

Esta obra está bajo una licencia de Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional.

www.revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/actualidades

Universidad de Costa Rica

Social Media Jealousy and Life Satisfaction in Romantic

Relationships: Mediation Role of Communication Skills

Celos en redes sociales y satisfacción en relaciones románticas: papel mediador

de las habilidades comunicativas

Ayşen Kovan

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4702-2675

Psychological Counseling and Guidance Department, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey

ayseen26@hotmail.com

Recibido: 6 de junio del 2022. Aceptado: 17 de noviembre del 2023.

Abstract. Objective. The main aim of this study is to examine the mediation role of communication skills in the relations-

hip between social media jealousy and life satisfaction in individuals with romantic relationships. Method. The sample

group of the study consisted of a total of 445 individuals who have a romantic relationship, 228 females and 217 males

aged from 18 to 31 in the period of emerging adulthood. The mean age of participants in the study was 23.49 (SD = 3.29).

In order to gather data Social Media Jealousy Scale, Life Satisfaction Scale and Communication Skills Scale. Results. Ac-

cording to the ndings of the study, social media jealousy negatively predicted life satisfaction. The main focus and other

important nding of the study was that communication skills mediated the relationship between social media jealousy

and life satisfaction. This study emphasises the mediating role of communication skills between social media jealousy and

life satisfaction in individuals with romantic relationships and suggests that developing and strengthening communication

skills. This study points to an important area in terms of understanding and improving the eects of social media interac-

tions on emotional experience and life satisfaction.

Keywords. Social media, social media jealousy, life satisfaction, communication skills, social comparison theory, roman-

tic relationships

Resumen. Objetivo. El objetivo principal de este estudio es examinar el papel mediador de las habilidades comunicativas

en relación con los celos en las redes sociales y la satisfacción vital en individuos con relaciones románticas. Método. El

grupo de muestra del estudio consistió en un total de 445 individuos que mantienen una relación romántica, 228 mujeres

y 217 hombres con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y los 31. La edad media de los participantes en el estudio era de

23.49 años (DT = 3.29). Para la recolección de datos, se utilizaron la Escala de Celos en las Redes Sociales, la Escala de

Satisfacción Vital y la Escala de Habilidades Comunicativas. Resultados. Según los resultados del estudio, los celos de las

redes sociales predijeron negativamente la satisfacción vital. El principal hallazgo fue que las habilidades comunicativas

mediaron la relación entre los celos en los medios sociales y la satisfacción vital. Este estudio subraya el papel mediador

de las habilidades de comunicación entre los celos de los medios sociales y la satisfacción vital en individuos con rela-

ciones románticas y recomienda el desarrollo y fortalecimiento de las habilidades de comunicación. Este estudio apunta

a un área importante en términos de comprensión y mejora de los efectos de las interacciones de los medios sociales en

la experiencia emocional y la satisfacción vital.

Palabras clave. Redes sociales, celos en las redes sociales, satisfacción vital, habilidades de comunicación, teoría de la

comparación social, relaciones románticas

Social Media Jealousy and Life Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Actualidades en Psicología, 37(135), 2023.

112

INTRO METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

Introduction

Positive psychology is an approach that focuses

on individuals understanding their lives, discovering

their strengths, and having positive experiences. Re-

searchers have shown interest in this eld in recent

years, as it diers from traditional psychology by fo-

cusing on well-being and happiness (

Yıldız & Bayte-

mir, 2016

). The main goal is to maximize individuals’

potential, build positive relationships, and encourage

a meaningful life. This approach associates life satis-

faction with not only avoiding stress and distress, but

also with meaning, achievement, and personal grow-

th (

Lopez et al., 2018). It plays a role in enhancing

positive experiences and personal development, ulti-

mately increasing individuals’ life satisfaction (

Diener

et al., 1999

; Pavot & Diener, 2008). Life Satisfaction

(LS) can dened as the overall quality of life, peace,

and satisfaction one obtains from life. It is linked with

emotional, social, and psychological well-being, as

well as the process of realizing own values and n-

ding meaning in life (

Proctor et al., 2017).

Romantic relationships are an important factor

aecting individuals’ LS. Research shows that a heal-

thy and supportive romantic relationship increases an

individual’s overall LS (Heidemann et al., 2014). Such

close relationships provide individuals with a sense

of security and commitment by including emotional

support, understanding and sharing (

Wieselquist

et al., 1999

). In addition, positive interactions in ro-

mantic relationships can help individuals full their

emotional needs (

Taormina & Gao, 2013), and thus

increase LS (

Diener et al., 2002). However, problems

or deciencies in romantic relationships can negati-

vely aect individuals’ LS (

Guzmán-González et al.,

2016

). Therefore, focusing on factors such as healthy

communication, mutual respect and understanding

in romantic relationships can be an important step

towards strengthening individuals’ LS.

Association between social media jealousy

(SMJ) and life satisfaction (LS)

Jealousy is a psychological state where individuals

experience negative emotions towards the achieve-

ments, relationships, or possessions of others. This

feeling of jealousy often stems from a sense of lac-

king in comparison, and it can impact an individual’s

self-esteem, sense of security, and relationships, and

is often seen in competitive environments or in pur-

suit of personal goals (

Guerrero & Andersen, 2013). In

the digital age, this jealousy has translated to social

media, giving rise to the term of social media jealousy

(SMJ) (

Emond et al., 2023). Social media platforms,

with their constant and instant access to others’ li-

ves, can trigger feelings of jealousy (

Fox & Moreland,

2015

). SMJ highlights the disparity between reality

and the virtual world, creating a competitive envi-

ronment based on visual and content sharing (

Chua

& Chang, 2016

; Emond et al., 2023). This jealousy can

negatively aect individuals’ well-being as they cons-

tantly compare themselves to others and their cura-

ted online lives (

Meier & Schäfer, 2018). Research on

SMJ is crucial in understanding the emotional impact

of digital social interactions on individuals’ mental

health (

Emond et al., 2023; Gupta & Sharma, 2021;

Tandon et al., 2021).

SMJ can cause various problems, especially in

romantic relationships (

Bevan, 2017). Since partners

tend to compare the content shared on their part-

ners’ social media proles, this can increase feelings

of insecurity and jealousy (

Muscanell & Guadagno,

2016

). Furthermore, comparisons made over social

media can overshadow the true value of a real-life re-

lationship and create a competitive dynamic between

partners (

Frampton & Fox, 2018). Not being liked or

appreciated by others online can negatively aect

one’s self-esteem, and these emotional diculties can

also aect romantic relationships (

Kim et al., 2009).

Furthermore, misleading images on social media can

create expectations that are incompatible with reality,

which can lead to disappointment between partners

(

Galician, 2004). Thus, SMJ can cause problems in ro-

mantic relationships such as communication decits,

trust issues, and emotional distancing.

While studies examining the relationship between

SMJ and LS have addressed the relationship be-

tween various psychological and social interactions

Social Media Jealousy and Life Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Actualidades en Psicología, 37(135), 2023.

113

INTRO METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

environment, and users can make comparisons with

themselves by constantly observing the lifestyles,

relationships and achievements of others through

the content shared on social media (

Vogel et al.,

2014

). This situation makes the phenomenon of SMJ

more apparent. Individuals can become inclined to

compare themselves with others on these platforms

where they are frequently exposed to idealised and

ltered content (

Casares Jr. & Binkley, 2022; Sher-

lock & Wagsta, 2019

). SCT can provide an impor-

tant framework for understanding individuals’ emo-

tional well-being through SMJ and explain various

psychological and social dynamics in this context.

The concepts of SMJ and LS are of great impor-

tance in understanding the psychological and emo-

tional well-being of individuals in societies. The wi-

despread use of social media platforms can trigger

feelings of jealousy by creating an environment of

constant comparison between individuals (

Appel et

al., 2016

; Fox & Moreland, 2015), and this jealousy

can cause individuals to compare their own lives

with their idealised lives on social media and this

can lead to negative eects on LS (

Abdellatif, 2022;

Halpern et al., 2017; Nguyen & Cheng, 2023). As a

matter of fact, it is thought that SMJ can decrease

the general happiness level of individuals, and this

can have a negative eect on their psychological

health. Therefore, understanding the relationship

between these two variables can be considered as

a critical step for individuals to develop healthy in-

teractions in digital environments, to manage social

media use consciously and to adopt appropriate

strategies to increase their LS. It can also contribu-

te to the development of eective intervention and

guidance programmes to understand the psycho-

social eects of social media and to support indivi-

duals’ emotional well-being.

Mediating relationship between communi-

cation skills (CS), social media jealousy (SMJ)

and life satisfaction (LS)

Communication skills (CS) is a concept that ex-

presses the individual’s capacity to express his/her

between these two factors, it is suggested that so-

cial media use can trigger feelings of jealousy by in-

creasing individuals’ comparisons with others (

Appel

et al., 2016

). Since social media platforms generally

focus on content that reects individuals’ lives in a

positive way, such comparisons between other users

can cause individuals to feel inadequate or unhappy.

This situation can negatively aect LS and reduce the

overall happiness level of individuals (

Miller et al.,

2016

). On the other hand, some studies indicate that

if social media is used correctly and the interactions

on these platforms are directed in a positive direc-

tion, positive eects on LS are also possible (

Kross

et al., 2021

; Seabrook et al., 2016). Well-organised

and supportive social media interactions can stren-

gthen individuals’ social ties (

High & Buehler, 2019),

and allow them to share positive experiences, which

can increase LS (

Kim & Shen, 2020; Raza et al., 2020).

However, although it is underlined that balance is im-

portant at this point, it has been stated that excessive

use of social media (

Yao & Cao, 2017) or an envi-

ronment where constant comparisons are made can

bring negative emotional eects (

Fox & Moreland,

2015

). Therefore, it is thought that social media users’

conscious management of these platforms and focu-

sing on positive social interactions play an important

role in achieving this balance.

Social Comparison Theory (SCT) can be used as

an appropriate approach to examine the relations-

hip between SMJ and LS and emphasises that indi-

viduals constantly compare themselves with others

in social environments and that these comparisons

have an impact on their emotional state (

Gerber,

2020

). Individuals usually evaluate their position

in the social world by comparing themselves with

others of similar age, gender, status or achievement

level. While these comparisons can create a positi-

ve self-perception, they can also lead to negative

emotional reactions such as emotional stress and

jealousy by creating the perception that others are

superior or successful (

Suls et al., 2002; Wilcox &

Laird, 2000). Social media platforms can cause indi-

viduals to make these comparisons in a wider online

Actualidades en Psicología, 37(135), 2023.

114

INTRO METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

Social Media Jealousy and Life Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

thoughts eectively through verbal and non-verbal

communication, to understand others and to interact

socially, which continues to be important and sought

after in every eld. These skills include various ele-

ments such as language skills, body language, em-

pathy, eective listening, interpretation and choosing

an appropriate communication style (

Korkut-Owen

& Bugay, 2014

; Kovan, 2017). Eective use of CS ena-

bles the individual to be successful in personal and

professional relationships and to create a positive

impact in social interactions (

Kovan, 2018). These

skills are also an important element for developing

the ability to communicate eectively in work envi-

ronments, education and other social contexts (

Ko-

van, 2017

; National Research Council, 2012). In addi-

tion, CS enable individuals to express their thoughts,

feelings and information eectively, to understand

others and to interact eectively in social contexts.

These skills support building trust in interpersonal re-

lationships, facilitating conict management and in-

creasing co-operation skills (

Bambacas & Patrickson,

2008

; Kovan, 2017; 2018). Moreover, the eective use

of CS in business and professional settings streng-

thens leadership ability, improves internal communi-

cation (

Quirke, 2017), and enriches the establishment

and maintenance of unity and solidarity in social se-

ttings (

Balay, 2004). CS play a critical role in the suc-

cess of individuals in education, business and social

life and have a fundamental importance in terms of

ensuring successful communication in social interac-

tions and professional relationships.

CS are so important element that forms the ba-

sis of healthy interactions in romantic relationships.

While eective communication between two part-

ners contributes to the strengthening of the emo-

tional bond and the sustainability of the relations-

hip, eective communication skills enable partners

to understand their emotional needs, express their

feelings clearly and resolve conicts in a healthy

way (

Davis & Oathout, 1987; Kovan et al., 2021; Sun-

gur, 2021

). At the same time, eective communi-

cation can help to increase trust between partners

and deepen the emotional bond (Jorgensen-Wells

et al., 2021

). For example, through open commu-

nication, expectations are claried, common goals

are set and solutions are found together, which can

strengthen the relationship. On the other hand, lack

of communication or misunderstandings can lead

to conicts and distancing in romantic relationships

(

Guerrero et al., 2017). In other words, communi-

cation problems can reduce the quality of the re-

lationship by causing problems such as emotional

distancing, mistrust, lack of understanding and so

on. Therefore, developing eective CS in romantic

relationships can help establish a healthy relations-

hip dynamic and strengthen the emotional bond

between partners. Skills such as openness, empa-

thy, eective listening and emotional expression

play an important role in creating a positive com-

munication environment in romantic relationships

(

Kozlowski, 2013; Wachs & Cordova, 2007). In this

context, eective communication between partners

forms the basis of a healthy, strong and sustainable

romantic relationship.

Since SCT provides a framework that suggests that

individuals tend to compare themselves with others

and that these comparisons aect their emotional

states, SMJ is thought to be related to SCT. Because

individuals can tend to constantly compare themsel-

ves with others’ lives through social media, and since

these channels generally oer an environment where

idealised and ltered content is shared, they can lead

other users to compare themselves with their own

lives (

Casares Jr & Binkley, 2022; Sherlock & Wagsta,

2019

). This can also aect their CS. SMJ creates a ne-

gative competitive environment between individuals,

which can lead to negative interactions in communi-

cation (

Sullivan, 2021; Van Ouytsel et al., 2019). Jea-

lousy can weaken individuals’ ability to empathise

and show understanding by bringing negative fee-

lings towards others’ success or happiness (

Protasi,

2017

). At the same time, the way in which feelings

of jealousy are expressed can lead to diculties in

openness and healthy expression in communication

(

Guerrero & Andersen, 2013). Jealousy in commu-

nication can create a negative interaction cycle be-

tween individuals who tend to compare through so-

Social Media Jealousy and Life Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Actualidades en Psicología, 37(135), 2023.

115

INTRO METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

from reality because they oer an environment whe-

re ltered and idealised content is shared (

Casares Jr.

& Binkley, 2022

). This situation can aect the com-

munication between individuals, leading to a de-

crease in emotional understanding and reected in

the way jealousy is expressed. Therefore, understan-

ding the relationship between SMJ and CS is consi-

dered to constitute an important research area for

the development of healthy and eective commu-

nication strategies in the digital age. On the other

hand, studies also show that individuals with eec-

tive CS generally have healthier and more satisfying

social relationships (

Bradley et al., 2011). Eective CS

can increase individuals’ emotional understanding,

create an empathic communication environment

and strengthen the ability to resolve conicts in a

healthy way (

Sungur, 2021). These factors can posi-

tively aect individuals’ overall happiness levels by

increasing their LS. In addition, studies on the rela-

tionship between CS and LS reveal that individuals’

being more successful and satisfying in their pro-

fessional and personal lives is related to eective CS

(

Davila et al., 2017; Kovan, 2017; Williamson et al.,

2013

). Individuals with eective CS can increase their

ability to co-operate in professional and social areas

and engage in more positive interactions in gene-

ral. These situations increase individuals’ LS and also

support their personal and professional success

(

Gopalan & Pattusamy, 2020). In this context, the re-

lationship between CS and LS has created an impor-

tant relationship in order to ensure that individuals

lead a healthier, happier and more satisfying life by

strengthening their social connections.

It is of great importance to understand the eects

of today’s digital age and to examine relationship dy-

namics. SMJ can cause trust and communication pro-

blems between partners, which can aect the health

of the relationship (

Kozlowski, 2013). LS aects rela-

tionship quality by reecting the general happiness

level of individuals in romantic relationships (

Gustav-

son et al., 2016), and CS determine the understanding

and harmony between partners (Fowers, 2001; Orte-

cial media. In this context, SCT provides an important

framework for understanding the complex relations-

hip between SMJ and CS. CS have an important role

in the context of this theory. Individuals can direct

the processes of comparing themselves to others by

using their CS (

Ruble, 1983), and this can have an

impact on their emotional experiences (

Epstude &

Mussweiler, 2009

). For example, eective communi-

cation can contribute to more positive and construc-

tive social comparisons by reecting an individual’s

ability to establish a healthy dialogue with others. In

this context, good CS can increase life satisfaction by

helping to reduce jealousy (

Leahy, 2018) or negative

emotional reactions due to social comparisons (

Choi

& Kim, 2021

). CS can also inuence how individuals

are perceived in their social environment, which can

have an impact on the outcomes of social compa-

risons. Individuals with eective and healthy CS can

engage in more positive social interactions and rela-

tionships, which can increase LS (

Kovan, 2017). Mo-

reover, eective communication allows individuals to

express their emotional needs and others to respond

to these needs with understanding (

Rahmanova &

Ekşi, 2023

), which can lead to the formation of heal-

thy social relationships that increase LS (

Uunk & Ho-

mann, 2023

). Thus, within the SCT framework, the

relationship between CS and LS plays a critical role

in regulating the individual’s interactions with his/her

environment.

Studies examining the relationship between SMJ

and CS oer important perspectives on how digi-

tal communication environments shape interactions

between individuals. In this context, studies show

that social media use, especially on platforms where

comparison and competition elements are intense

(

Appel et al., 2016; Fox & Moreland, 2015), increases

feelings of jealousy among individuals (

Muscanell &

Guadagno, 2016

). In this context, SMJ can negatively

aect CS by triggering negative emotional reactions

among individuals (

Emond et al., 2023). Moreover,

studies on the eects of SMJ on CS indicate that

SMJ can challenge individuals’ empathic understan-

ding, emotional control and eective conict mana-

gement (

Utz, 2022; Van Ouytsel et al., 2019). Social

media platforms can create expectations that are far

Social Media Jealousy and Life Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Actualidades en Psicología, 37(135), 2023.

116

INTRO METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

tive. In addition, purposive sampling method was

preferred in the study. Because of better unders-

tand the purpose of the study and the research

questions, and the ndings contribute to a more

in-depth understanding of a specic topic and/or

sample for the purpose of analysis (

Etikan et al.,

2016

). Individuals were reached through 10 univer-

sity students living in Eskişehir province in Turkey

and studying at three dierent universities in there.

This data collection method was particularly eec-

tive in reaching the young adult population.

While 228 (51.2%) of the participants were fe-

male and 217 (48.8%) were male, the mean age

of the participants was 23.49 (SD = 3.29). While

the majority were undergraduate’s (57%), and as-

sociate’s (20%) degree graduates, it was observed

that the number of participants with 2-3 hours of

active social media use per day (52%) was higher

than the other categories. In this study, the fact

that married individuals were also included in the

sample provides a wider perspective and diversi-

ty in terms of relationship type. While 49% of the

participants were in a dating relationship, 30% de-

clared that they were married. Focusing on the re-

lationship duration variable, it was observed that

36% of the participants were in a relationship be-

tween 0-1 year, and 24% of the participants were

in a relationship between 4-5 years. The related

socio-demographic characteristics of the partici-

pants are presented in detail in

Table 1.

Measures

Social Media Jealousy Scale

This scale, developed by Aydın and Uzun (2021)

to determine SMJ in romantic relationships, consists

of 21 items, three dimensions and 5-point Likert

type (1 = completely appropriate to 5 = not appro-

priate at all). The high scores obtained from the

scale mean that individuals have high levels of SMJ

towards their partners in romantic relationships. The

cronbach α internal consistency coecient of the

scale was calculated as .92. In this study, the cron-

bach α reliability coecient of the scale was found

se & Tor-Anyiin, 2008). With the increasing use of so-

cial media, it is considered necessary to understand

how interactions on digital platforms aect romantic

relationships. In this context, relationship counselling

and training programmes can help partners to set

healthy boundaries in social media use and improve

CS. In addition, the development of strategies to in-

crease interpersonal trust and support programmes

for partners focusing on increasing LS can contribute

to the maintenance of healthy and satisfying roman-

tic relationships. Based on all these explanations and

suggestions, the research questions for the purpose

of the study are formulated below:

. Does romantic partners’ SMJ predict their

LS levels?

. Do CS levels of romantic partners have a

mediating role between SMJ and LS?

The reason for using the mediation analysis in

this study is to understand how CS can function as

a tool in the relationship between SMJ and LS of

individuals in romantic relationships. In other words,

the mediating role of CS aims to explain the rela-

tionship between SMJ and LS in more detail. Firstly,

given the increasing prevalence and impact of SMJ,

it is important to understand the negative eects of

this jealousy on LS in romantic relationships. CS can

be a tool to cope with these negative eects. Indi-

viduals with good CS can discuss, empathise and

nd solutions to social media-induced jealousy with

their partners in a more open and healthy way (

Tan-

don et al., 2021

). Therefore, CS can function as an

eective tool in managing the eects of SMJ on LS.

Method

Design and Participants

The sample of the study consisted of individuals

between the ages of 18-31, which is dened as the

emerging adulthood period (

Arnett, 2007). The

reason for the selection of the sample is the pre-

diction that individuals in this age group tend to

use social media more actively and their processes

towards romantic relationships can be more eec-

Social Media Jealousy and Life Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Actualidades en Psicología, 37(135), 2023.

117

INTRO METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

Variables N %

Gender Female 228 51.2

Male 217 48.8

Education level High school 23 5.2

Associate degree 91 20.4

Undergraduate 254 57.1

Postgraduate 77 17.3

Daily SM usage Less than 2 hours 60 13.5

2-3 hours 231 51.9

4-5 hours 96 21.6

6 hours and more 58 13

Relationship type Dating 219 49.2

Engagement 93 20.9

Married 133 29.9

Relationship duration 0-1 year 162 36.4

2-3 years 101 22.7

4-5 years 108 24.3

6 years and more 74 16.6

Table 1. Demographics

to be .75, while the sub-dimensions were found to

be .87 for restrictive and controlling attitude, .88 for

sceptical and observant attitude, and .72 for respect

and trust in social media space.

Life Satisfaction Scale

In the study, the scale adapted by Dağlı and

Baysal (2016) was used to determine the LS levels

of individuals. The cronbach α internal consisten-

cy coecient of this scale consisting of ve items,

one dimension and 5-point Likert type (1 = strongly

disagree to 5 = totally agree) was found to be .88

and the test-retest reliability was found to be .97.

In this study, the cronbach α reliability coecient of

the scale was calculated as .94.

Communication Skills Scale

The scale developed by Korkut-Owen and Bu-

gay (2014) to measure individuals’ CS consisted

of 25 items, four sub-dimensions and 5-point Likert

type (1 = never to 5=always). The internal consisten-

cy coecient of the original scale was found to be

.88 and the reliability of the repetition of the test was

.81. In this study, the cronbach α reliability coecient

of the scale was found to be .82 and calculated as

.64 for communication principles and basic skills,

.77 for self-expression, .75 for eective listening and

non-verbal communication, and .86 for willingness

to communicate sub-dimension.

Procedures

Ethics Committee approval was obtained for the

study with the date 2020-21, 25/05/2021 and the de-

cision number 015, and data collection was carried

out during 03-05.2022. Participation and consent

forms were reported to the participants in written

form online before the scales were administered.

Social Media Jealousy and Life Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Actualidades en Psicología, 37(135), 2023.

118

INTRO METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

The mediating role of communication

skills (CS)

In the study, the eect and mediating role of CS

on LS were tested with Process Macro. The three-sta-

ge analysis technique proposed by Baron and Kenny

(1986) was applied and the direct eect of SMJ on LS

was tested for the rst stage in the mediation analy-

sis. As a result of the analysis, it was found that SMJ

predicted LS negatively (β= -.02, p < .01), and this

eect was signicant. In the model, it was determined

that SMJ explained 27% of LS.

In the second stage of the mediation analysis, the

direct eect of SMJ on CS and CS on LS was tes-

ted. As a result of this analysis, it was found that SMJ

predicted CS negatively (β= -.46, p < .01), and CS

predicted LS positively (β= .32, p < .01). In this model,

SMJ explained 14% of CS and CS explained 31% of LS.

After the rst two conditions of the mediation

analysis were met, the nal stage was started. At this

stage, the relationships between all variables were

tested simultaneously in the model and the standar-

dised values of the nal model are shown in

Figure 1.

When compared with the standardised values of

the model tested in the rst stage of the mediation

analysis, it was observed that the value indicating

the relationship between SMJ and LS decreased

from β = -.02 to β = -.12. The fact that these values

are statistically signicant indicates that CS has a

mediating relationship between SMJ and LS.

Data Analysis

Before proceeding to the analysis process, it was

checked whether the data were normally distribu-

ted. At this stage, the skewness and kurtosis values

of the variables were examined and it was seen that

they were in the range of +2 to -2. These values are

considered among the criteria of normality assump-

tion (

Tabachnick & Fidell, 2013). The relationships be-

tween the variables were also analysed with Pearson

correlation coecient. Process Macro (v4.3) of

Hayes

(2018)

was used for mediation analysis of the rela-

tionship between CS, SMJ and LS. During this analy-

sis, it was tested according to the condence inter-

vals (CIs) obtained with the bootstrap technique and

the mediation analysis (model 4) was used. It allows

testing the mediating relationship with bootstrap

condence intervals (CIs) for indirect eect, was used

to test whether CS, the mediating variable, inuences

the strength of the relationship between the inde-

pendent variable, SMJ, and the dependent variable,

LS. With the bootstrapping process, the number of

samples were increased to 5000 and CIs were crea-

ted with the bootstrap value. The absence of a zero

between the CIs revealed that the tested model was

signicance (p < .05).

Results

When the data in Table 2 are analysed, it is seen

that there are moderate and negative relationships

between SMJ and LS, SMJ and CS, and moderate and

positive relationships between LS and CS.

Variables SMJ LS CS

Social Media Jealousy -

Life Satisfaction -.12** -

Communication skills -.09** .55** -

M±SD 55.86±9.80 17.95±4.78 106.26±8.74

** p < .01

Table 2. Descriptives and Correlations (N = 445)

Social Media Jealousy and Life Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Actualidades en Psicología, 37(135), 2023.

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INTRO METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

Indirect effect = -.14, 95% CI [ -.20, -.10]

=.14

=-.46, p < .01

b= .31,

p< .01

c = -.02, p < .01

' = -.12,

< .01

= .31

= .27

SMJ

Figure 1. The mediating eect of communication skills (CS) on the association between social media jea-

lousy (SMJ) and life satisfaction (LS) (N = 445)

Paths Coefficients 95% CIs

Direct

SMJ  LS

-.27 (-.44, -.09)

SMJ  CS

-.17 (-.07, -.27)

CS  LS

.57 (.82, .32)

Indirect

SMJ  CS  LS

-.14 (-.20, -.10)

Table 3. Standardised Bootstrap Analysis

Discussion

This study aimed to examine in more detail the

relationship between SMJ and LS levels of individuals

in romantic relationships. Furthermore, understan-

ding whether CS play a mediating role in this rela-

tionship emerged as a key goal to better understand

partners’ romantic relationship experiences and sa-

tisfaction levels.

The primary aim of the study was to examine how

SMJ among individuals in romantic relationships pre-

dicts their LS. The nding also showed that SMJies in-

creasingly aect individuals’ LS negatively, especially in

romantic relationships. This means that as their level

of SMJ increases, their SMJ also decreases. In this case,

SMJies between partners in romantic relationships can

be related to lack of trust (

Kozlowski, 2013), sense of

control (

Aydın & Uzun, 2021), and perceiving the re-

lationship as a threat (

Tandon et al., 2021). Thus, the

occurrence of such situations can also reduce indivi-

duals’ overall LS (

Kovan et al., 2021), as these feelings

of jealousy can emerge as a source of tension in the

relationship and negatively aect individuals’ emotio-

nal well-being (

Emond et al., 2023; Gupta & Sharma,

2021; Tandon et al., 2021). This nding is consistent

with similar studies in the literature. Previous research

Bootstrap analysis

Bootstrap analysis was applied to test the

signicance of the mediating role of CS be-

tween SMJ and LS, and the coecients and

condence intervals for the direct and indi-

rect eects of the analysis are given in Table 3.

It was found that the indirect eect of SMJ on LS

was signicant, and therefore, CS mediated the rela-

tionship between SMJ and LS (β = -.14, 95% CI [-.20,

-.10]). In addition, the standardized bootstrap lower

and upper condence interval values obtained with

the percentile method did not include the zero value.

Social Media Jealousy and Life Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Actualidades en Psicología, 37(135), 2023.

120

INTRO METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

(Bradley et al., 2011; Vazquez et al., 2023). In addition,

there are also studies suggesting that CS can increase

the capacity to cope with relationship stressors such

as SMJ (

Utz & Beukeboom, 2011), and thus increase

LS (

Eğeci & Gençöz, 2006). In this context, emphasi-

sing the contribution of CS in romantic relationships

to the relationship between SMJ and LS with the cu-

rrent study is considered to be important in terms of

developing interventions such as couple and family

counselling, and relationship support programmes.

Strengthening CS can contribute to partners to have

a healthier relationship by reducing the eects of con-

icts in romantic relationships.

When the ndings are analysed in terms of CS and

CS scale, communication principles and basic skills di-

mension of the CS scale plays an important role in de-

termining the CS of the individual and addresses the

basic principles and skills in the interaction between

individuals (

Korkut-Owen & Bugay, 2014). For exam-

ple, considering individuals in romantic relationships,

skills such as accepting one’s partner as they are, lis-

tening without prejudice, and speaking in a calm tone

of voice support healthy communication in the rela-

tionship (

Sungur, 2021). At the same time, respecting

the partner’s wishes and not forcing them can streng-

then mutual understanding in communication (

Gott-

man et al., 1995

). Maintaining boundaries of intimacy

and comfort in communication in the relationship can

make a positive contribution to the emotional we-

ll-being of the partner. On the other hand, understan-

ding each other correctly and expressing understan-

ding deepens communication by increasing mutual

understanding (

Reis, 2001). These CS can increase LS

in romantic relationships and provide a healthier and

more satisfying relationship experience. In the self-ex-

pression dimension, depending on the importance of

evaluating the individual’s emotional and intellectual

expression skills, these skills support eective commu-

nication in the relationship when considered through

individuals in romantic relationships (

Fowers, 2001).

For example, the ability to express one’s thoughts in a

comprehensible way makes the communication with

the partner clear and open, which can increase mu-

has shown that feelings of jealousy in romantic rela-

tionships generally reduce relationship satisfaction

(

Andersen et al., 1995; Elphinston & Noller, 2011; El-

phinston et al., 2013

), and have a negative impact on

individuals’ LS (

Kim et al., 2009; Meier & Schäfer, 2018).

There is also research on the impact of social media

on relationship dynamics and how interactions on

these platforms can trigger feelings of jealousy (

Appel

et al., 2016

; Frampton & Fox, 2018). In this context, the

current study evaluates the eects of SMJies on LS wi-

thin romantic relationships in the context of the wider

literature, highlighting the potential eects of social

media use on relational health. When this nding is

considered in terms of SCT, depending on the pers-

pective that the comparisons of the individual aect

their personal evaluations (

Gerber, 2020), the fact that

SMJ predicts LS in romantic relationships can result

from the comparisons that individuals make with their

partners and their environment through social media

(

Emond et al., 2023). Social media provides individuals

with the opportunity to observe and evaluate other

romantic relationships, which can trigger feelings of

jealousy (

Utz & Beukeboom, 2011; Utz et al., 2015). Jea-

lousy can arise as a result of social comparisons and it

is thought that these feelings can negatively aect LS.

Another important nding of this study showed

that CS of individuals in romantic relationships me-

diated the relationship between SMJ and LS. Based

on this nding, it can be said that CS can streng-

then the emotional connection between individuals

(

Vazhappilly & Reyes, 2018), as well as alleviate the

eects of SMJ (

Frampton & Fox, 2018; Nongpong &

Charoensukmongkol, 2016

), and increase LS (Kovan,

2017

; Kovan et al., 2021). The role of CS in romantic

relationships is critical in the process of understanding

and expressing the emotional needs of partners and

strengthening mutual understanding (

Kovan et al.,

2021

; Sungur, 2021). In this context, healthy CS can po-

sitively aect individuals’ LS by reducing the negative

eects caused by SMJ. This nding is also supported

by similar studies in the literature. Research has shown

that CS increase satisfaction in romantic relationships

and strengthen positive interaction between partners

Social Media Jealousy and Life Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Actualidades en Psicología, 37(135), 2023.

121

INTRO METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

Also, taking time for others’ emotional expressions

and giving sincere compliments can create a positive

atmosphere in the relationship by making the part-

ner feel valued (

Chapman, 2009). These skills can oer

a deeper, meaningful and satisfying communication

experience in romantic relationships. When this n-

ding is considered from the perspective of SCT, which

provides an important perspective to understand how

social comparisons can aect these dynamics, we can

understand that CS are a critical factor determining

the quality of relationships between individuals. In fact,

social media use can increase the frequency of com-

parisons in romantic relationships (

Coyne et al., 2017),

and CS can be a direct reection of these comparisons

(

Satici et al., 2023). Good CS can reduce SMJ between

partners (

Leahy, 2018), which in turn can positively

aect LS (

Yam, 2023). In other words, individuals with

eective CS can perceive their partners more positi-

vely on social media and make healthier comparisons,

which can reduce the negative emotional experiences

that lead to SMJ, and thus have a positive eect on LS.

This study explained the complexity of the rela-

tionship between CS, SMJ and LS in more detail and

oered a new perspective to the eld. With its focus

on the mediating role, it has made important contri-

butions to the literature and addresses the eects on

relationship dynamics in more detail. The potential of

CS to reduce feelings of jealousy in romantic relations-

hips oers a new perspective for future research to

understand partners’ communication strategies and

their eects on relationship dynamics in more depth.

In this study also has some limitations. Firstly, sin-

ce data are based on subjective evaluations, there

is a potential for variability in participants’ respon-

ses to the scale items depending on changes in their

emotional states. In addition, the fact that the sam-

ple group of the study was selected from a limited

geographical area can cause limitations in making

generalisations. Considering these limitations, future

studies can address this relationship more compre-

hensively by using or comparing larger and more di-

verse sample groups and the generalisation capacity

of the ndings can be increased.

tual understanding. At the same time, the ability to

ask questions while listening to the other individual is

considered important to eliminate possible disagree-

ments in communication and to develop a deeper un-

derstanding (

Cüceloğlu, 2000). The ability to express

emotions freely can contribute to strengthening the

emotional bond. Verbal expression of thoughts and

feelings in romantic relationships can increase LS by

creating a common meaning and a shared language.

In the dimension of active listening and non-verbal

communication, CS are considered from a broader

perspective, when considered in terms of individuals

in romantic relationships, these skills can enrich the

communication in the relationship and provide a dee-

per understanding (

Sungur, 2021). For example, paying

attention to the compatibility of body language with

what is said can increase sincerity in communication

and strengthen emotional meaning. To enhance mu-

tual understanding, it is important to be able to listen

to someone and focus not only on how they respond,

but also on what they mean (

Itzchakov et al., 2022).

Considering the correspondence between the content

of conversations and non-verbal communication can

help to recognise subtleties in communication and

build richer communication (Kuhn et al., 2018). Also,

the ability to understand emotional expressions be-

yond what is said allows for a deeper understanding

of the partner’s emotional world (

Kennedy-Moore &

Watson, 2001

). These skills can positively aect LS by

improving the quality of communication in romantic

relationships. The willingness to communicate dimen-

sion assesses the individual’s willingness to interact

with other individuals in this process (

Korkut-Owen &

Bugay, 2014

), and when considered in the context of

romantic relationships, these skills can contribute to

strengthening the emotional bond in the relations-

hip and deepening communication (

Burleson, 2003;

Fowers, 2001). For example, the ability to express emo-

tions through words and body language can facilitate

an emotional connection with the partner. The ability

to show close attention and initiate conversations with

ease can increase the connectedness in the relations-

hip and strengthen mutual sharing (

İmamoğlu, 2021).

Social Media Jealousy and Life Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Actualidades en Psicología, 37(135), 2023.

122

INTRO METHOD RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

Future studies can include large sample groups

spanning dierent age groups, cultures and re-

lationship types, and can focus on more detail to

understand the inuence of these factors on outco-

mes. Longitudinal studies assessing changes in so-

cial media use over time and the long-term eects

of these changes on romantic relationships can also

be done. In this way, the body of knowledge on

understanding relationship dynamics and develo-

ping strategies to intervene in these dynamics can

be further expanded and provide more ndings for

both the literature and the eld of practice. It is also

considered important to adopt an interdisciplinary

approach to understand the eects of digital com-

munication tools on romantic relationships more

comprehensively. Indeed, a better understanding of

the psychosocial factors underlying SMJ, especially

the role of variables such as emotional intelligence,

self-esteem, relationship type on these dynamics,

and so on can be areas to focus on in future re-

search. On the other hand, improving CS and LS

and further examining couple and family interven-

tion strategies can contribute to the development

of eective strategies to combat SMJ in romantic

relationships.The ndings of this study suggest that

CS of individuals in romantic relationships mediate

the relationship between SMJ and LS. In this con-

text, the mediating role of CS in explaining the con-

text between SMJ and LS deepens the understan-

ding of the complexity of romantic relationships.

On the other hand, when evaluated within the SCT

framework, this mediating role of CS emphasi-

ses the eects of individuals’ making comparisons

with other romantic relationships on social media

and their emotional experiences in this process. All

these ndings emphasise the importance of CS in

romantic relationships and suggest that improving

these skills can positively aect the relationship be-

tween SMJ and LS. As a result of the ndings, this

study contributes to the literature in this eld and

provides directions for future research for a more

comprehensive examination of CS and a deeper

understanding of social media interactions in ro-

mantic relationships. In this context, strengthening

CS can be considered as a factor that increases LS

in romantic relationships and can be a focal point in

the development of interventions in this eld.

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