Abstract
The occurrence of the COVID-19-virus led to drastic short-term measures to reduce its spread and influence. Regulations such as “physical distancing,” mentioned as “social distancing,” and the closure of public facilities during the lockdown could be perceived as burdensome especially by individuals who feel a strong need for social exchange and belonging. These components such as need to belong and the fear of missing out also play a major role in the development and maintenance of a problematic use of social networks. Researchers have argued recently that an increase of addictive (online) behaviors may be a likely consequence of subjectively experienced restrictions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study investigates the interplay of perceived strain due to COVID-19-related restrictions and the fear of missing out (FoMO) as well as of symptoms of problematic social-networks use. We hypothesized that perceived strain due to COVID-19-related restrictions mediates the effect of specific predisposing variables related to social needs on the symptom severity of a problematic use. To assess the perceived strain due to COVID-19-related restrictions, we developed a specific questionnaire asking for perceived COVID-19-related strain in several domains of everyday-life. An exploratory factor analysis identified five factors: perceived strain related to restrictions of (1) social contacts, (2) travel, (3) childcare, (4) work, and (5) own health. In a sample of 719 German participants and data collection during the first COVID-19 lockdown (March 30th until April 3rd 2020), a structural equation model was calculated showing that higher levels of need to belong and FoMO increase perceived COVID-19-related strain, which is related to symptoms of a problematic social-networks use. The effect of need to belong on problematic social-networks use is mediated by experienced COVID-19-related strain and FoMO-online. Even if the use of social networks is not pathological per se, it may be associated with suffering for a vulnerable part of users. We conclude that specific needs and fear-associated predisposing variables contribute to experiencing physical distance and other pandemic-related restrictions as more stressful, which may increase problematic social-networks use and potentially other addictive behaviors as well in the context of the COVID-19-related lockdown.
Highlights
In 2020, the coronavirus disease, (COVID-19) an infection leading to acute respiratory syndromes, has emerged
Based on the aforementioned theoretical considerations, we argue that social needs such as need to belong and traitFoMO are important predisposing factors contributing to the symptom severity of a problematic use of social networks, and that this relationship is mediated by internet-related cognitive biases such as state-fear of missing out (FoMO)
We found no significant relationship between factor Health of the COVID-19 related strain and the symptom severity of problematic social-networks use
Summary
In 2020, the coronavirus disease, (COVID-19) an infection leading to acute respiratory syndromes, has emerged. One of the most important restrictions is the strategy of “social distancing,” often mentioned as “spatial distancing” or “physical distancing,” which—in addition to create safe, physical distance between people—mainly includes the restrictions of social contacts in real life and to stay at home. This form of self-isolation and contact restrictions seems to be a massive burden, especially for individuals with a strong need for social exchange and belonging. The use of the Internet might be a welcome and functional coping strategy to escape pandemic-associated problems and difficult thoughts for some [1, 7,8,9]
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