Book of Abstracts

The aim of the study was to assess the significance of the relationships between critical thinking and social media addiction. Additionally, the study examined how general self-efficacy is related to these variables. The study involved 234 participants (M_age = 39.76; SD = 15.39), the majority of whom were women (80.8%). The Critical Thinking Questionnaire (CThQ), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) were used. The correlation matrix was calculated using Spearman’s rho nonparametric test. Significant negative correlations were found between social media addiction and the ability to understand and interpret information (rho = –.201; p = .002), as well as with the ability to self-reflective and to be self-critical (rho = –.159; p = .015). General self-efficacy was not significantly correlated with social media addiction; however, it showed significant associations with overall critical thinking (rho = .375; p < .001) and several of its dimensions: evaluating the credibility of information (rho = .329), creating original interpretations (rho = .307), understanding and comparing content (rho = .295), applying knowledge in practice (rho = .354), and tendency to self-reflection, analysis of one's own thought process (rho = .366). All correlations were statistically significant at p < .001. The findings suggest that a high level of critical thinking, particularly the ability to understand and interpret information, may serve as a protective factor against the risk of social media addiction. General self-efficacy, although not significantly related to addiction, may be significantly associated with critical thinking.