A new study of social media users has found that more than half of all users’ lives have been changed – with half of these claiming that these social websites have made their lives worse as a result.

Working on behalf of the charity Anxiety UK, the Salford Business School at the University of Salford polled 298 people in its survey, revealing that 53% felt social media sites had led to a significant change in their behavior. Of these, 51% said that the change had been a negative one.

Most commonly cited was the fact that among those who felt their lives were negatively impacted by social media, were feelings of inadequacy when they compared their achievements to those of their online friends.

Other negative impacts, cited by two thirds of all respondents who claimed social media negatively impacted their lives, include difficulty in getting to sleep or relaxing after spending time online. In addition, one quarter said they faced problems in their relationships or work lives due to confrontations on websites such as Facebook and Twitter.

The survey also highlighted the addictive nature of such websites – with 55% of respondents admitting they felt “uncomfortable or worried” when they couldn’t get online.

Indeed, so widespread is Facebook and Twitter addiction that almost 60% of respondents claimed that the only way they could pull themselves away was by switching off their smartphones or tablet devices in order to take a break.

Interestingly however, the results of the UK poll are in stark contrast to the findings of a recent study by a team from San Diego State University and the University of Georgia, which claims that using Facebook can actually increase self-esteem.

Nicky Lidbetter, chief executive of Anxiety UK, said that social media websites were a particular problem for those who already lack self-esteem:

“If you are predisposed to anxiety it seems that the pressures from technology act as a tipping point, making people feel more insecure and more overwhelmed.”

Lidbetter said that she was particularly surprised by the proportion of people who could only tear themselves away from their devices by switching them off, because they simply weren’t able to ignore them while they were switched on.