Predictors of Problematic Social Media Use in a Nationally Representative Sample of Adolescents in Luxembourg.

Claire Van Duin,Helmut Willems,Andreas Heinz

doi:10.3390/ijerph182211878

Abstract

Social media use has increased substantially over the past decades, especially among adolescents. A proportion of adolescents develop a pattern of problematic social media use (PSMU). Predictors of PSMU are insufficiently understood and researched. This study aims to investigate predictors of PSMU in a nationally representative sample of adolescents in Luxembourg. Data from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Luxembourg were used, in which 8687 students aged 11–18 years old participated. The data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. A range of sociodemographic, social support, well-being and media use predictors were added to the model in four blocks. The predictors in the final model explained 22.3% of the variance in PSMU. The block of sociodemographic predictors explained the lowest proportion of variance in PSMU compared with the other blocks. Age negatively predicted PSMU. Of the predictors related to social support, cyberbullying perpetration was the strongest predictor of PSMU. Perceived stress and psychosomatic complaints positively predicted PSMU. The intensity of electronic media communication and preference for online social interaction were stronger predictors of PSMU than the other predictors in the model. The results indicate that prevention efforts need to consider the diverse range of predictors related to PSMU.

Highlights

The last decades have seen a sharp increase in digital technology use and online communication [1,2]
Due to contradicting results and a general lack of research, we explore the following research question: Research Question 1: Which sociodemographic factors contribute to the risk of problematic social media use among adolescents?
This study identified several predictors of problematic social media use (PSMU) related to sociodemographic factors, social support, well-being and media use in an adolescent population, which indicated that there is a wide range of predictors that influence adolescents’ susceptibility to PSMU

Summary

Introduction

The last decades have seen a sharp increase in digital technology use and online communication [1,2]. Young people especially have embraced social media, current data suggesting that, on average in Europe, 54% of children and adolescents aged 9–16 use social media at least once daily [1]. The increasing popularity of social media among adolescents has been met with increasing concern about the potential negative effects of social media on the well-being of young people. These concerns have led to research on the effects of social media on the well-being of adolescents. Previous research has found positive effects of social media on adolescents, such as an increased level of self-esteem and access to online support networks [7,8], as well as negative effects such as an impaired sleep quality and mental health problems [9,10]

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Discussion

Conclusion