Mapping adolescent problematic social media use patterns across 41 countries/regions: A multilevel latent class analysis with social determinants.

Understanding the Health and Well-Being of Early Adolescents Throughout the World: Findings From the 2017–2018 Survey of Health Behavior in School-Aged Children

Although previous meta-analyses were conducted to quantitatively synthesize the relation between problematic social media (SM) use and mental health, they focused on Facebook addiction. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to examine this relation by extending the research scope via the inclusion of studies examining problematic use of all platforms. One hundred and thirty-three independent samples (N =244,676) were identified. As expected, the mean correlations between problematic SM use and well-being are negative, while those between problematic SM use and distress are positive. Life satisfaction and self-esteem are commonly used to represent well-being, while depression and loneliness are usually used to indicate distress. The mean correlations of problematic SM use with life satisfaction and self-esteem are small, whereas those of problematic SM use with depression and loneliness are moderate. The moderating effects of publication status, instruments, platforms and mean age are not significant. The magnitude of the correlations between problematic SM use and mental health indicators can generalize across most moderator conditions.

BackgroundIn the digital age, the relationship between social media use and mental health has gained significant attention. Problematic social media use can negatively affect mental health, while mental health literacy plays a crucial role in mitigating these effects.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the relationships between problematic social media use, mental health literacy, and their interaction with depression among nursing students.MethodsA convenience sample of 628 nursing students from a university was selected. Participants completed questionnaires assessing social media use, mental health literacy, and depressive symptoms. The tools used included the PHQ-9, the Youth Mental Health Literacy Scale, and the Problematic Use of Mobile Social Media Scale. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine associations.ResultsThe average score for problematic social media use was 56.29 ± 16.22, with 159 students (24.84%) exhibiting problematic behaviors. The average depression score was 5.19 ± 5.32, with 296 students (46.25%) showing depressive symptoms. The average mental health literacy score was 82.46 ± 13.24, with 191 students (29.84%) demonstrating adequate literacy. Logistic regression analysis revealed that both problematic social media use and low mental health literacy were risk factors for depression, with additive and multiplicative interactions. Nursing students with both problematic social media use and low mental health literacy had the highest depression detection rate of 77.2% (88/114), with an odds ratio (OR) of 6.464.ConclusionsDepression is prevalent among nursing students. Problematic social media use and low mental health literacy are significant risk factors for depression, and their interaction significantly increases the risk. Reducing problematic social media use and improving mental health literacy can help prevent depression and other negative emotional states among nursing students.

Much of the existing literature on the influence of social media use on well-being has focused on Facebook. Additionally, there exist inconsistencies in how different aspects of social media use (i.e., duration, problematic use, and emotional investment) impact well-being. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate how engagement with social media (Instagram and TikTok) was related to problematic social media use and mental well-being. Additionally, this study examined individuals’ emotional investment (value attributed to “likes” and social media followers) on each platform and how this related to problematic social media use and well-being. In this correlational study, 252 participants completed an online questionnaire including validated scales (e.g., the Rosenberg self-esteem scale) and items measuring the time spent on each platform (minutes per day) and the importance of likes, and followers. Time spent on TikTok was a significant positive predictor of problematic social media use, depression, and self-esteem, however, did not predict loneliness. Time spent on Instagram was a significant positive predictor of problematic social media use, but not any other well-being factors. These latter findings highlight the need to investigate additional factors related to how individuals are using social media, as duration is not a sufficient predictor of well-being. Problematic social media use was a significant positive predictor of depression and self-esteem, but not loneliness. Emotional investment varied in predicting problematic social media use and well-being across the two social media platforms. Present findings may alert clinical psychologists to the importance of monitoring social media use in clinical populations.

Childhood maltreatment and problematic social media use: The role of attachment and depression

BackgroundBullying, problematic internet gaming, and problematic social media use are concerning phenomena, especially among youth. However, studies including all three of them are scarce. Therefore, this study investigated the associations between bullying victimization and the two internet-related outcomes. Furthermore, differences between problematic internet gaming and problematic social media use regarding the individual and moderating effects of gender, age, educational background and mental health problems were examined.MethodsAdolescents (N = 6,735; 48.85% females) answered a school-based survey on bullying, problematic internet gaming, problematic social media use and mental health problems. The age ranged from grade 5 with M = 10.77 years (SD = 0.68) to grade 9 with M = 14.75 years (SD = 0.87) and overall M = 12.73 years (SD = 1.60). A-level school students represented higher educational background (39.52%) while B-level school students represented lower educational background (60.48%). Multilevel modelling was used to examine the associations of bullying victimization with problematic internet gaming and problematic social media use as well as the influences of gender, school grade as a correlate of age, school type and mental health problems.ResultsVictims of bullying showed higher odds for problematic internet gaming and problematic social media use. Overall, boys showed higher levels of problematic internet gaming, whereas girls showed higher levels of problematic social media use. Younger adolescents reported higher odds for problematic internet gaming, while no age effect was found for problematic social media use. Students with lower educational background and those with more mental health problems reported more problematic social media use than problematic internet gaming. Mental health problems moderated the association of bullying victimization with problematic internet gaming and problematic social media use, with stronger relations for students with less mental health problems. Furthermore, gender was a significant moderator for problematic social media use but not for problematic internet gaming, with a stronger association for boys.ConclusionsBullying victimization is strongly related to different types of problematic internet use. As differences in the impact on problematic internet gaming and problematic social media use can be identified, prevention should also consider gender, age, educational background and mental health problems.Trial registration DRKS00028183.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13034-025-01008-x.

Problematic social media use is becoming a significant social and clinical concern, and there is growing research interest in the psychological factors involved, such as personality predispositions and the fear of missing out (FOMO). The present study investigated both the dark triad (DT, namely, narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and trait emotion intelligence (trait EI) in relation to the problematic use of technology and social media engagement and the mediating role of FOMO. A total of 788 people between 18 and 35 years old (M = 24.22; SD = 3.91; 75% women) were surveyed. The results showed that social media engagement was positively related to problematic social media use and negatively related to trait EI. In addition, problematic social media use was positively related to DT and negatively related to trait EI. Fear of missing out was positively related to social media engagement, problematic social media use, and DT, and negatively related to trait EI. Fear of missing out had a mediating effect on the relationship between personality dimensions, problematic social media use, and social media engagement. The extent to which personality traits may underpin problematic use of social media and the practical implications of the findings are discussed.

BackgroundSexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals experience minority stress, especially when they lack social support. SGM young adults may turn to social media in search of a supportive community; however, social media use can become problematic when it interferes with functioning. Problematic social media use may be associated with experiences of minority stress among SGM young adults.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to examine the associations among social media use, SGM-related internalized stigma, emotional social support, and depressive symptoms in SGM young adults.MethodsParticipants were SGM young adults who were regular (≥4 days per week) social media users (N=302) and had enrolled in Facebook smoking cessation interventions. As part of a baseline assessment, participants self-reported problematic social media use (characterized by salience, tolerance, and withdrawal-like experiences; adapted from the Facebook Addiction Scale), hours of social media use per week, internalized SGM stigma, perceived emotional social support, and depressive symptoms. Pearson correlations tested bivariate associations among problematic social media use, hours of social media use, internalized SGM stigma, perceived emotional social support, and depressive symptoms. Multiple linear regression examined the associations between the aforementioned variables and problematic social media use and was adjusted for gender identity.ResultsA total of 302 SGM young adults were included in the analyses (assigned female at birth: 218/302, 72.2%; non-Hispanic White: 188/302, 62.3%; age: mean 21.9 years, SD 2.2 years). The sexual identity composition of the sample was 59.3% (179/302) bisexual and/or pansexual, 17.2% (52/302) gay, 16.9% (51/302) lesbian, and 6.6% (20/302) other. The gender identity composition of the sample was 61.3% (185/302) cisgender; 24.2% (73/302) genderqueer, fluid, nonbinary, or other; and 14.6% (44/302) transgender. Problematic social media use averaged 2.53 (SD 0.94) on a 5-point scale, with a median of 17 hours of social media use per week (approximately 2.5 h per day). Participants with greater problematic social media use had greater internalized SGM stigma (r=0.22; P<.001) and depressive symptoms (r=0.22; P<.001) and lower perceived emotional social support (r=−0.15; P=.007). Greater internalized SGM stigma remained was significantly associated with greater problematic social media use after accounting for the time spent on social media and other correlates (P<.001). In addition, participants with greater depressive symptoms had marginally greater problematic social media use (P=.05). In sum, signs of problematic social media use were more likely to occur among SGM young adults who had internalized SGM stigma and depressive symptoms.ConclusionsTaken together, problematic social media use among SGM young adults was associated with negative psychological experiences, including internalized stigma, low social support, and depressive symptoms. SGM young adults experiencing minority stress may be at risk for problematic social media use.

Social media has become increasingly part of our everyday lives and is influential in shaping the habits, sociability, and mental health of individuals, particularly among students. This study aimed to examine the relationship between changes over time in problematic social media use and mental health outcomes in students. We also investigated whether resilience and loneliness moderated the relationship between social media use and mental health. A total of 103 participants completed a baseline virtual study visit, and 78 participants completed a follow-up visit, 4-weeks later. Participants completed a comprehensive set of questionnaires measuring symptoms of depression and anxiety, perceived stress, loneliness, and resilience. Our results showed that problematic social media use at baseline was significantly negatively correlated with resilience and positively correlated with all other mental health outcomes. Furthermore, increases in problematic social media use were significantly associated with increased depressive symptoms and loneliness between visits. Resilience significantly moderated the relationship between increased problematic social media use and heightened perceived stress. Poor mental health at baseline did not predict increased problematic social media use over time. Contrarily to problematic use, frequency of social media use was not significantly correlated with any mental health measures at baseline. This study offers a longitudinal perspective, providing valuable insights into the potential protective role of resilience against the detrimental mental health effects seen with increases in problematic social media use.

Social norms and e-motions in problematic social media use among adolescents

BackgroundMany parents are concerned about their adolescents’ (problematic) social media use. Therefore, parents may apply restrictive mediation practices to prevent problematic social media use. However, their effectiveness remains unclear.ObjectiveThis study aimed to provide insights into the specific groups and conditions under which restrictive mediation may effectively prevent adolescents’ problematic social media use. Specifically, we investigated the prospective relationship between rules about the amount, location, and timing of internet use and the onset of adolescents’ at-risk or problematic social media use. In addition, we examined the moderating role of demographic and parenting factors, including adolescents’ age, adolescents’ gender, adolescent involvement in rule-setting, positive parenting, parental phubbing, and quality of coparenting (2-way interactions). Furthermore, we explored whether the moderation effects of the parenting factors varied by adolescents’ age and gender (3-way interactions).MethodsFour-wave survey data of 315 adolescents (T1: mean age 13.44, SD 2.26 years; n=146, 46.3% girls, n=169, 53.7% boys) and their parents (T1: mean age 46.4, SD 5.05 years; n=292, 55.4% mothers) were used. Data were collected between April 2020 and January 2022, with a 6-month interval between each wave.ResultsNo significant main effect was found of internet-specific rule-setting at T1 on the onset of adolescents’ at-risk or problematic social media use throughout the study period (odds ratio [OR] 0.959, 95% CI 0.60-1.54, d=0.02). Yet, 2-way interaction analyses revealed that the effect of internet-specific rule-setting varied by adolescents’ age (OR 2.171, 95% CI [1.35-3.49], d=0.43). Specifically, for adolescents aged <12.31 years (−0.5 SD), stricter rules were associated with a lower likelihood of developing at-risk or problematic social media use (unstandardized beta (B)=−0.568, SE=0.280, 95% CI [–1.12 to –0.02], P=.042). In contrast, for adolescents aged >15.70 years (+1 SD), stricter rules were associated with a higher likelihood of developing at-risk or problematic social media use (B=0.594, SE=0.294, 95% CI 0.02-1.17, P=.043). Two-way interaction effects of rule-setting with adolescents’ gender (OR 0.945, 95% CI 0.54-1.64, d=0.03), adolescent involvement in rule-setting (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.77-1.36, d=0.01), positive parenting (OR 1.044, 95% CI 0.69-1.59, d=0.02), parental phubbing (OR 0.977, 95% CI [0.72-1.33], d=0.01), and quality of coparenting (OR 0.877, 95% CI 0.64-1.21, d=0.07) were not significant, nor were any of the 3-way interaction effects.ConclusionsSetting internet-specific rules seems to have a preventive effect on the development of problematic social media use symptoms in pre- and early adolescence, but may be counterproductive from the age of 15.7 years onward. These findings highlight the importance of age-appropriate parental mediation strategies to prevent problematic social media use.

Social support, online social support, and problematic social media use: A three-level meta-analysis.

BackgroundPhubbing is a commonly seen phenomenon that has emerged in recent years among groups of college students, posing a rising challenge to educators. We conduct research in which the reciprocal relationship between problematic social media use and phubbing is explored and analysed quantitatively, aiming to discover reliable theoretical support to work out an appropriate intervention on students’ phubbing for students’ mental health concerns.MethodsUsing the problematic social media use scale and the phubbing scale, 328 college students from four universities in Shandong Province were enrolled in a two-stage longitudinal follow-up study for 20 months from December 2019 to August 2021. A cross-lagged model was constructed to explore the reciprocal relationship between problematic social media use and phubbing. The results of correlation analysis showed that problematic social media use was positively correlated with phubbing at both time points (r = 0.51, 0.53, P < 0.01).ResultsThe results of cross-lagged regression analysis showed that the predictive effect of pretest problematic social media use on posttest problematic social media use was statistically significant (β = 0.24, P < 0.01). There was statistical significance in the prediction effect of pretest phubbing on posttest phubbing (β = 0.16, P < 0.05). Pretest problematic social media use had statistical significance in predicting posttest phubbing (β = 0.22, P < 0.01), and there was no statistical significance in the prediction of pretest phubbing on posttest problematic social media (β = 0.16, P < 0.05).ConclusionThe problematic social media use of college students is closely related to phubbing, and problematic social media use can predict phubbing.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between problematic social media use and levels of anxiety, depression, and stress among adolescent students. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Problematic Use of Social Media Questionnaire were administered to a sample of 1,164 students from Compulsory Secondary Education and the first year of Baccalaureate programs (M = 14.56; SD = 1.40). The data revealed positive and statistically significant correlations between problematic social media use and the variables of anxiety, depression, and stress. Furthermore, students classified as having high levels of problematic social media use reported significantly higher mean scores in anxiety, depression, and stress compared to those with moderate or low use. Additionally, the likelihood of exhibiting high problematic use increased by 1.18, 1.26, and 1.25 times for each one-unit increase in anxiety, depression, and stress, respectively. These findings underscore the need for preventive and intervention strategies targeting emotional difficulties among adolescents with problematic social media use.

Background Social media can influence alcohol initiation behaviors such as sipping, which can lead to future adverse alcohol-related outcomes. Few studies have examined the role of problematic social media use, characterized by addiction, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse, especially in early adolescence. Objective To examine the prospective association between social media use and sipping alcohol in a nationwide sample of early adolescents, and the extent to which problematic social media use mediates the association. Methods We analyzed prospective data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N = 7514; ages 9–10 years at baseline; 2016–2018) to estimate associations between social media time (Year 1) and alcohol sipping (Year 3) using modified Poisson regression, adjusting for confounders and testing problematic social media use (Year 2) as a mediator. Results Social media time (Year 1) was prospectively associated with 1.31 (95% confidence interval 1.20–1.43) times higher risk of new-onset sipping (Year 3). The association between social media time and new-onset alcohol sipping was partially mediated by problematic social media use at Year 2 (25.0% reduction in the association between the former two factors after adding problematic social media use, p = 0.002). Conclusions Time spent on social media was associated with a higher risk of alcohol sipping in a diverse national sample of early adolescents, and the association was partially mediated by problematic social media use. Media literacy education and family media use plans could advise early adolescents about exposure to alcohol content on social media and warning signs for problematic use.