Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale Research Articles

Loneliness, Number of Facebook Friends, and Facebook Addiction among University Students

Facebook addiction gets huge attention among researchers as a new form of behavioral addiction. The present study aimed to assess the role of loneliness and the number of friends on Facebook as risk factors of Facebook addiction. Necessary information was collected from a sample of 234 students who were selected through non-probability sampling techniques using a structured questionnaire that contained the UCLA Loneliness scale, Bergen Facebook addiction scale, questions regarding the number of Facebook friends and personal information. Results showed male Facebook users had higher number of Facebook friends than female users. Results also explored that loneliness, the number of Facebook friends, and being female were significant predictors of Facebook addiction. These findings would help respective authorities take proper initiative for reducing loneliness and Facebook addiction and ensuring sound mental health for making students as future leaders of the country's development. The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 10(1 &2):139-148, 2020

Gender Differences in Facebook Addiction as a Coping Response to Social Stressors and Poor Self-Confidence

The Threat Appraisal and Coping Theory suggests that when individuals perceive social stressors from important interpersonal relationships (family, friends, romance), and when they have poor self-confidence, they may display the coping behavior of seeking social support, including that provided by social media platforms such as Facebook. However, individuals who perceive intense social stressors and have poor self-confidence may use Facebook to the extent that it interferes with other areas of their lives. The present study examined this cognitive sequence that could lead to such Facebook addiction: SOCIAL STRESSORS à POOR SELF-CONFIDENCE à EXCESSIVE FACEBOOK. Because of past research showing gender differences in each of these variables, we hypothesized that women would be more likely to show the proposed cognitive sequence leading to Facebook addiction. Participants were 243 women and 209 men from a paid online Survey Monkey sample who reported demographics, three social stressors (family, friends, romance), self-confidence with Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, and excessive Facebook use with the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale. Unlike our hypothesized results, moderated mediational analyses with 5000 bootstrapped samples found significantly higher indirect effect sizes for the three-variable sequence in men than in women, specifically when the social stressor was from family or romantic partners. One interpretation would be that when conflicts occur in intimate personal relationships (family, romance), women may have a wider network of real-life relationships in which they share their emotional concerns, whereas men are more likely to rely on online social media to vent concerns about intimate relationships.

Procrastination Mediates the Relationship between Problematic TikTok Use and Depression among Young Adults.

Background: Although the prevalence of depression has increased significantly in recent years, especially in the young adult population, little is known about its causes and risk factors. The study aims to examine the mediating role of TikTok use in the relationships between procrastination and depression in young adults. Methods: A sample of 448 adults, ranging in age from 18 to 35 years (M = 24.45, SD = 3.76), including 214 men (48%), participated in the study. The cross-sectional survey consists of a modified Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) to assess problematic TikTok use (PTTU), the Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS) for procrastination measurement, and the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for screening depression symptoms. Results: The independent samples t-test indicates that emerging adults (ages ranging between 18 and 25 years) have more severe depression symptoms than young adults (26-35 years old). Gender differences were not found for procrastination, PTTU, and depression symptoms. Positive correlations were found between procrastination, PTTU, and depression symptoms. PTTU plays a mediating role in the associations between procrastination and depression. Conclusions: Both procrastination and PTTU treatment should be prioritized in the prevention and intervention programs for improving mental health among young adults. Some effective therapeutic methods are recommended.

Video games and Facebook addiction among Tunisian adolescents: prevalence and associated factors.

As social media and online gaming technology have developed very rapidly over the last two decades, their paired issues are of growing concern worldwide. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of video game and Facebook addiction and its predictive factors among Tunisian in school adolescents. We conducted a cross-sectional study among in school adolescents in Sousse, Tunisia, over the first academic term of the 2019-2020 school year using a self-administered questionnaire to a randomly selected representative sample of 1,353 students. The valid Arabic version of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), the Video Game Addiction Scale (GAS-7), the Beck Depression Inventory Short Form (13items) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED-C) were used to assess facebook addiction disorder (FAD), internet gaming disorder (IGD), depression and anxiety respectively. More than one in four pupils (26.1 %; CI 95 %: 23.8-28.4 %) were identified as problematic video game users and almost a third of participants (32.5 %; CI 95 %: 30-35 %) reported FAD. IGD was significantly associated with FAD (p<0.001). Likewise, pupils exhibiting depressive symptoms as well as those with anxiety symptoms were significantly more likely to be problematic video games and Facebook users (p<0.001 for each). Being addicted to Facebook (AOR=1.83, 95 % CI: 1.18-2.81), experiencing anxiety disorders (AOR=2.43, 95 % CI: 1.52-3.88), being male (AOR=2.51, 95 % CI: 1.95-3.23) and spending more than 4 h per day surfing the net (AOR=2.55, 95 % CI: 1.65-3.96) were the determinants of IGD in the multivariate analysis. Similarly, being addicted to video games (AOR=1.82, 95 % CI: 1.21-2.73), experiencing anxiety disorders (AOR=1.85, 95 % CI: 1.20-2.86), having experienced academic failure (AOR=1.73, 95 % CI: 1.16-2.56), and spending more than 4 h per day on social media (AOR=3.75, 95 % CI: 2.38-5.90) were the predictors of FAD. The prevalence of problematic use of video games and Facebook is alarmingly high. Identifying risk factors can help screen high-risk adolescents. We need additional prevention measures addressing not just adolescents, but all risk factors.

Facebook addiction and sleep problems in peruvian university students after the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have reported an increase in sleep problems and problematic use of social media platforms such as Facebook among university students. This study assessed Facebook addiction and sleep problems among Peruvian university students following the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the factors associated with these issues. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 352 participants from different regions of Peru. The Jenkins Sleep Scale (JSS-4) and the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) were used to assess sleep problems and Facebook addiction, respectively. Prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated using a simple Poisson regression with robust variance. ResultsThe study found that 16.2 % of the participants were addicted to Facebook and 12.5 % reported sleep problems. The results also showed that older age (PR: 0.99; 95 % CI: 0.98–0.99) and physical activity (PR: 0.81; 95 % CI: 0.70–0.94) were associated with a lower likelihood of having sleep problems, while being physically active (PR: 0.55; 95 % CI: 0.33 to 0.90) was associated with a lower probability of having Facebook addiction problems. ConclusionsThe Peruvian university students who participated in this study reported sleep problems in one-eighth of the sample, and one in six university students reported Facebook addiction problems. The frequency of presenting Facebook addiction and sleep problems was lower in those with older age and engaging in physical activity.

Facebook Use and Mental Health: Gender and Academic Year Variations in Symptoms

BACKGROUND: In an increasingly digital age, social media, particularly Facebook, has become an integral part of college students' lives. This study seeks to explore how gender and academic year may influence Facebook addiction and its impact on mental health among this demographic. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The survey includes sociodemographic questions and BFAS, GAD-7, and BFAS scales. Data analysis was conducted by SPSS, with statistical tests conducted at a 95% confidence level. Normal distribution was tested with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Sperman’s correlation was conducted to assess any potential correlation and the Mann-Whitney test was used to investigate any significant differences in the mean score. RESULTS: This study included 1,098 college students aged 18 to 25 (mean age 21.35). A majority (62.8%) of the participants identified as female, and notably, 61.5% were clinical medical students. The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) was utilized yielding a mean score of (mean: 16.43, SD: 5.934).. Interestingly, most participants reported "Rarely" or "Very Rarely" feeling restless or troubled when unable to use Facebook (64.5%). The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) unveiled that participant experienced mild anxiety, with a mean score of 8.63 (SD: 4.928). Approximately 43.2% reported mild anxiety. Depression, assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), reflected moderate depression with a mean score of 11.70 (SD: 6.39). Correlations were explored among BFAS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 scores. A strong positive correlation emerged between GAD-7 and PHQ-9 (r: 0.634, p-value &lt; 0.001). Furthermore, there was a significantly moderate positive correlation between BFAS and PHQ-9 (r: 0.344, p-value &lt; 0.001) and a significantly small positive correlation between BFAS and GAD-7 (r: 0.282, p-value &lt; 0.001). The Mann-Whitney Test was employed to investigate gender and academic year differences in scores. Female participants exhibited significantly higher scores than males in BFAS (p-value = 0.028), GAD-7 (p-value &lt; 0.001), and PHQ-9 (p-value = 0.004). Additionally, preclinical students reported higher scores than clinical students in BFAS (p-value &lt; 0.001) and PHQ-9 (p-value &lt; 0.001). CONCLUSION: In summary, this study sheds light on the complex interplay between Facebook use, mental health symptoms, gender, and academic year among college students. It reveals a moderate level of Facebook addiction and varying degrees of anxiety and depression. Gender disparities are evident, with females reporting more severe symptoms. Furthermore, academic year impacts these factors, with preclinical students exhibiting higher scores. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for tailoring interventions and support mechanisms to address the unique challenges faced by college students in the digital age.

The link between Facebook addiction and depression among university students: Evidence from a lower-middle income country.

Among all the social media, Facebook is the most popular social networking site among students. That raises a chance of excessive Facebook usage being a form of addiction to hamper students' mental health. The primary goal of this study was to find the association of Facebook addiction with the depression level of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Four hundred ten university students from Bangladesh were selected randomly as samples for this investigation. In this study, the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale and nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire were used to assess the level of Facebook Addiction and depression status of the students, respectively. Ordered probit models were employed to identify the connection between Facebook addiction and depression. Ordinary least square models were utilized further to check the robustness of the findings. Ordered probit results confirm that Facebook addiction increases the likelihood of having heightened depression among university students. Besides, sex, household income, and history of being infected by COVID-19 also appeared to be correlated with the depression level of the students. Creating opportunities for students to participate in more physically demanding outdoor activities should be prioritized as it could ultimately enhance their capacity to mitigate depression. Appropriate measures must be taken to increase the number of recreational facilities on the campus for students, considering their age, gender, and preferences.

Psychometric properties of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale for Portuguese adults

Background: The research about online behavior addiction suggests the importance of improving assessment methods and deepening the knowledge about this phenomenon.Goals: To characterize main psychometric properties of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) for Portuguese adults.Methods: This cross-sectional study design involved Portuguese participants who were selected by snowball-convenience sampling. Data were collected through online survey of sociodemographic and BFAS, with invitations distributed by Facebook. Data analysis was performed through descriptive and reliability tests, as well factorial and invariance analysis.Results: The sample was composed of 444 Portuguese people between 18 and 73 years old. Reliability estimate for the one-factor solution was .795, suggesting good internal consistency reliability properties. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed congruence with original unifactorial model of BFAS. Multigroup analysis supported measurement invariance across sex and education level.Discussion: These results suggest reliability and validity. Invariance evidence was also confirmed for the BFAS in a Portuguese sample of Facebook users. These results contribute to the validation process of the Portuguese version of the BFAS, encouraging further studies with different clinical and non-clinical groups.

Personality disorders traits, interpersonal problems and emotion dysregulation as predictors of Facebook addiction

ABSTRACT Background Some empirical data suggest that Facebook Addiction (FA) is underlined by difficulties in emotion regulation. We aimed to investigate the role played by personality disorder traits, interpersonal problems and emotion dysregulation in FA. Methods We administered to a sample of community participants (N = 270; 78.5% females; M age = 41 years, SD = 14.05), the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), the Personality Inventory Index for DSM-5 (PID-5), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the Interpersonal Problem Index-47 (IPI-47). Results Controlling for age and gender, we found that the IPI Aggression subscale, the Negative Affectivity domain of the PID-5 and the DERS Total score positively and significantly predicted BFAS scores. Moreover, results showed that emotion dysregulation partially mediated the relationship between personality disorder traits and FA severity whereas interpersonal problems moderated the direct relationship between pathological personality and FA severity. Conclusions Our results shed light on the complex pattern of relationships between these variables.

The relationship between women’s personality traits and addiction to social networking sites on the example of Facebook

IntroductionSocial network addicts may differ significantly from non-addicts in terms of personality traits, such as agreeableness, neuroticism, and conscientiousness. Addicts may be prone to negative emotions and unpleasant experiences, which may be associated with a higher level of neuroticism. Addicts often fail to cope in the real world, often experience negative emotions, quickly give up their goals, see themselves and others in a negative light, and escape into virtual reality. The virtual world is devoid of the anxiety that an individual faces in real life interactions, hence the tendency for addiction among people with higher levels of neuroticism. The primary cause of Internet Addiction may be innate temperamental traits (i.e., impulsiveness of behavior and impulsiveness of decisions) that influence the susceptibility to functional and chemical addictions. According to the concept of addictive personality, people who have this problem are prone to addiction as such, regardless of what they are addicted to.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to generally assess the degree of women’s dependence on social networking sites on the example of Facebook, taking into account personality traits according to the five-factor model of personality, the so-called Big Five by Costa and McCraeMethodsThe study included 556 women. This survey-based study was carried out using the questionnaire technique. The following research tools were used to analyze behavioral addictions in adult women: the Bergen Face- book Addiction Scale (BFAS), the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO FFI) and the author’s questionnaire.ResultsAmong the surveyed women, 69.6% were average Facebook users, of whom 16.4% had scores indicating possible Facebook addiction, and 14.0% had scores indicating addiction. The higher the neuroticism, the more serious the Facebook addiction (r = 0.26; p &lt; 0.001; R2 = 6.7%). A weak negative correlation was obtained for the agreeableness subscale e (r = -0.08; p &lt; 0.05; R2 = 7.2%). A weak negative correlation was also obtained for the subscale of conscientiousness (r = -0.16; p &lt; 0.001; R2 = 2.6%). There was no statistically significant correlation between the log10 score obtained on the BFAS and the score on the NEO-FFI subscales of extraversion (r = 0.04; p = 0.40) and openness to experience (r = 0.04; p = 0.30).ConclusionsThe personality types of the studied women indicated relationships in terms of behavioral addictions. Women characterized by neuroticism showed stronger addiction to Facebook. Women characterized by high conscientiousness were at lower risk of behavioral addictions, while agreeableness as a personality trait significantly protected the surveyed women against Facebook addiction.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Facebook addiction and its related factors among medical students; a cross- sectional study in Bangladesh.

There is mounting evidence that Facebook Addiction is associated with poor mental health, physical symptoms, social dysfunction, and despair among the adolescent and youth population. The current study set out to identify the prevalence of Facebook Addiction among Bangladeshi medical students as well as its influencing factors. This cross-sectional survey was conducted on 720 randomly selected medical students from eight public medical colleges from January to June 2022. Data were obtained using a semi- structured, self-reported questionnaire and analyzed using the SPSS v.23 programs. The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale BFAS was used to assess Facebook Addiction, while the Generalized Anxiety Disorder GAD-7, Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ-9, Perceived Stress Scale PSS10, Chen Internet Addiction Scale CIAS, and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index PSQI was used to assess anxiety, depression, perceived stress, internet addiction, and sleep quality. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the influence of several demographic, psychological, and behavioral characteristics on the likelihood of respondents being addicted to Facebook. Facebook Addiction was observed in 29.4% of medical students. According to data, 63.7% of medical students reported mild to severe anxiety, 29.3% moderate to severe depression, and 84.9% moderate to high perceived stress. Lack of personal income [OR with (95% CI), 1.82 (1.13, 2.96)], poor academic performance [2.46 (1.45, 4.15)], moderate anxiety [2.45 (1.22, 4.92)], moderate perceived stress [5.87 (1.92, 17.95)], and moderately severe depression [2.62 (.97, 7.08)] were all found to play a significant role in the development of Facebook Addiction. However, living with parents [OR with (95% CI), .37 (.14, .95)] and positive family relationships [.40 (.18, .87)] reduces the likelihood of becoming addicted to Facebook. An integrated participative Behavioral and psychological intervention should be devised to reduce the risks of Facebook addiction in medical students while also improving their mental health-related quality of life.

Facebook addiction and affected academic performance among Ethiopian university students: A cross-sectional study.

Addiction is an extreme craving for and commitment to something, physically or psychologically. Currently, addiction to social media is the main emerging technology addiction, especially among the young generation. The main aim of the current study was to evaluate the status of Facebook addiction and its relation to academic performance and other correlates among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 students from December 1-30, 2021, and Facebook addiction was examined with the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS). The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Study Habit Questionnaire (SHQ) were employed to assess self-esteem, anxiety and depression symptoms, and study habits, respectively. Systematic random sampling was used to recruit the subjects, and the data were analyzed by SPSS version 23.0. Statistics such as percentages, frequencies, mean ± SD, and mean differences were calculated. Multiple regression analysis was performed, and all the required assumptions were checked. The statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05 and a 95% CI. Results revealed that, the mean age of the students was 23.62 (SD = ±1.79) and 51.6% of the participants were male. The majority of the participants were addicted to Facebook, and Facebook addiction was positively linked with factors like lower academic achievements and the symptoms of anxiety and depression. In conclusion, Facebook addiction was found to be higher among study participants, and it is negatively affecting their academic performances. Similarly, it was associated with affected mental well-being and reduced self-esteem. It is better for the legislative body of the university to put firm policies in place for promoting safe use and reducing the detrimental effects of this problem among students.

Adaptation of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale for a sample of Portuguese population

The aim of this study is to adapt a Portuguese version of the original 18 items of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), via a translation / back translation process, using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in a Portuguese sample. The sample comprised 232 respondents from the general population. The modified BFAS acquires a different factor structure from the original, keeping 4 of the main theoretical elements (subscales) and 10 of the 18 original items. The results indicate that the Portuguese version of the original BFAS presents good psychometric qualities. The statistical techniques used in the study allowed assessing the reliability and validity of the modified BFAS. Nevertheless, further uses of this scale with other samples from the Portuguese population are necessary to confirm the obtained results.

Facebook use intensity and depressive symptoms: a moderated mediation model of problematic Facebook use, age, neuroticism, and extraversion

BackgroundResearch on the relationship between Facebook use intensity and depressive symptoms has resulted in mixed findings. In contrast, problematic Facebook use has been found to be a robust predictor of depressive symptoms. This suggests that when intense Facebook use results in a problematic usage pattern, it may indirectly predict depressive symptoms. However, this mediation pathway has never been examined. Moreover, it remains unclear whether the possible indirect relationship between Facebook use intensity and depressive symptoms through problematic Facebook use is moderated by demographic (age), and personality (neuroticism and extraversion) characteristics.MethodsTo address these gaps, we conducted an online cross-sectional study (n = 210, 55% female, age range: 18–70 years old, Mage = 30.26, SD = 12.25). We measured Facebook use intensity (Facebook Intensity Scale), problematic Facebook use (Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale), depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised), and neuroticism and extraversion (Ten Item Personality Inventory).ResultsA mediation analysis revealed that problematic Facebook use fully mediates the relationship between Facebook use intensity and depressive symptoms. Moreover, a moderated mediation analysis demonstrated that this indirect relationship is especially strong among young users and users scoring high on neuroticism.ConclusionsThese findings expand our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between Facebook use intensity and depressive symptoms and describe user characteristics that act as vulnerability factors in this relationship.

Facebook addiction user risk profiles among college students: Identification of subclasses of addictive behaviors characterized by demographics and covariates using latent profile analysis

Previous studies and theoretical assumptions suggest a heterogeneity among users at risk of Facebook addiction, similar to other behavioral addictions. These studies, which took a variable-centered approach showed varied relationships between psychological factors, personality traits and motives with addiction indicators. This study aimed to take a person-centered approach that focused on investigating profiles of Facebook addiction indicators and the associated level and importance of Griffiths’ six core components of addiction as measured by the Bergen Facebook addiction scale. Further, the predictive power associated with loneliness, self-esteem, the Big Five personality traits and gratifications sought related to the identification of Facebook addiction risk level were also assessed. Data were collected from 611 college students using a self-administered online questionnaire. The data were analyzed using latent profile analysis (LPA), ANOVAs, pairwise comparisons and decision trees. The LPA identified three latent classes of Facebook behavior, namely ‘high-risk’, ‘low risk’ and ‘no risk’. The prevalence of ‘high-risk’ users was 8.5%, which was predominantly females (88%). All six of the core components of addiction were found to contribute to classification of users within the three classes. Additionally, sex, age, agreeableness, loneliness and all five forms of gratification sought had a significant positive relation to Facebook addiction. While self-esteem had a significant negative relationship with Facebook addiction. Further, according to the decision tree analyses and pairwise comparisons of the classes the criteria of tolerance and mood modification, and the covariates of loneliness and self-esteem showed the highest predictive powers. The study concluded that tolerance and mood modification are the most relevant criteria in the diagnosis of Facebook addiction. Further, emotional support and escapism are likely critical underlying factors in conversion to Facebook addiction.

Alexithymia in Facebook Addiction: Above and Beyond the Role of Pathological Narcissism.

Personality dysfunctions and deficits in the capacity to cope with negative emotional states have been related to internet addictions. However, in relation to Facebook addiction, this issue remains poorly investigated. Specifically, few studies explored the role played by grandiose and vulnerable narcissism in Facebook addiction. Furthermore, the relationship between alexithymia and pathological narcissism has not yet been explored in relation to problematic Facebook use. The main objective of this study was to examine the association among Facebook addiction, pathological narcissism and alexithymia. A cross sectional study was designed to this aim. A sample of adult participants (N=270; Mage=41.05; SD=14.05) was administered the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), The Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Results showed that pathological narcissism, and especially grandiose narcissism, appears to be an important factor associated to problematic Facebook usage among adults. Moreover, difficulties in the capacity to identify their own emotional states may be a risk factor for such condition. In conclusion, these results are in line with other data found in the field of behavioral addictions and add further reflection for planning more specific clinical intervention programs for individuals addicted to Facebook with narcissistic traits. These may benefit from a greater focus on the impairments in self-monitoring capacities such as emotional awareness. Personality psychopathologies should be targeted by clinical interventions, but also broader functional impairments (as such as alexithymia) should be addressed as more strategic therapeutic objectives in the field of Facebook Addiction.

Internet addiction is associated with psychological distress in highly schizotypal students.

There is some limited evidence of an association between technology addictions and emergence of pre-psychotic symptoms, high psychoticism, psychotic like experiences and high schizotypy among young non-clinical adults. These addictions and their subsequent distress are likely to contribute to transition to psychosis in individuals at risk. We aimed to compare smartphone, Internet and Facebook addictions between low and high schizotypal individuals; and to explore the association between these addictions and distress in the high schizotypy group. From a pool of 700 students, the final sample consisted of 74 low schizotypal and 70 high schizotypal students. The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, the Internet Addiction Test, the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales. Students of the high schizotypy group displayed significantly greater scores on smartphone (p< .001), Internet (p< .001) and Facebook (p= .001) addictions scales, as compared to those of the low schizotypy group. After controlling for potential confounders, Internet addiction predicted psychological distress in the high schizotypy group (R2 = 0.380, F(13,55) = 2.597, p< .001) and explained an additional 19.7% of variation in Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales total scores in the final model. Although preliminary, our findings shed light on relatively new avenues for prevention and early intervention in psychosis. It is recommended to raise awareness about Internet addiction risks, particularly among vulnerable young adults; and to find ways to turn Internet into a protective rather than stressor factor, by utilizing it as a resource in the care pathway.

Self-Objectification and Depression among Students Experiencing Facebook Addiction

Self-objection and Facebook addiction have important effects on the mental health of every individual. However, very few studies have examined the correlation between depression symptoms, Facebook addiction, and self-objectification. The present study had two main objectives; first, to explore self-objectification and depression among students with Facebook addiction, and second to find out the family system, gender, and academic performance based on differences in study variables. Data was collected from 378 purposively selected Facebook-addicted students using The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS; Andreassen et al., 2012), Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS; McKinley &amp; Hyd,e, 1996), and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS; Zung, 1965). Study results showed that depression has a significant positive connection with self-objectification and Facebook addiction. Similarly, significant gender difference exists in self-objectification, depression, and Facebook addiction. The result indicated significant academic performance base differences exist on self-objectification and Facebook addiction, whereas differences are non-significant in nature on depression. The result also revealed that significant family system base differences on self-objectification and depression, and Facebook addiction.

Facebook use and its predictive factors among students: Evidence from a lower- and middle-income country, Bangladesh.

Background:Facebook is a popular social networking site in the modern world. It has an adverse effect such as impairing daily health and psychological health and also interpersonal relationships when the use becomes problematic.AimsTo examine problematic Facebook use (PFU) and its predictors among Bangladeshi students during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodA cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 601 Bangladeshi students and collected data related to socio-demographic information, behavioral health, internet use behavior, depression, anxiety and problematic Facebook use [assessed using the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS)]. The data were analyzed using descriptive (frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVAs, correlations, and multivariable linear regression).ResultsThe results indicated that 29.1% of participants were problematic Facebook users (using cutoff ≥18 out of 30). Medical college students had higher mean score on PFU than other students (p < 0.001). In addition, the mean score of PFU was significantly higher among the students who were in a relationship (p = 0.001), did not engage in physical activity (p < 0.001), used the internet more than 5 h per day (p < 0.001), used social media (p < 0.001), and had depression or anxiety symptoms (p < 0.001). PFU was significantly associated with depression and anxiety among the whole sample. Predictive factors for PFU included relationship status, daily internet use time, gaming, social media use, depression, and anxiety. The model predicted almost 33.2% variance for PFU.ConclusionsFindings suggest interventions should be implemented for students with a special focus on medical students who had higher score of PFU than other types of students.

Internet addiction in light of social connectedness and connectedness to nature

IntroductionThe Internet increasingly influences the lives of people in pandemic times. Although there are many positives, there are also risks related to excessive use and addiction. Internet addiction subject has been explored worldwide.ObjectivesThe aim of this pilot study was to analyze the relationships between social connectedenss, connectedness to nature and the occurrence of Internet addiction.Methods The data were collected from a group of 200 young adults. A cross-sectional observational study using an online questionnaire was conducted via social media. The semi-structured online questionnaire covered the following areas: (1) general sociodemografic data; (2) Internet usage, measured by Generalized and Problematic Internet Use Scale (GPIUS2) (Caplan, 2002), Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short-Form (IGDS-SF9) (Pontes &amp; Griffiths, 2015), the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) (Andreassen et al., 2012); (3) nature conectedness, measured by the Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS) (Mayer, Frantz, 2004); (4) social connectedness, measured by the Social Connectedness Scale Revised (SCS) (Lee et al., 2001); (4) psychological impact and mental health, measured by Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21) and (5) psychological features, such as coping strategies (Mini-COPE, Carver et al.,1989) and personality traits (TIPI -Gosling, Rentfrow, Swann Jr., 2003)ResultsThe detailed results and key findings will be presented during the congress.Conclusions As the research of the desribed area is insufficient so far, this pilot study may provide a significant contribution to the knowledge on new aspects of internet addictions’ mechanisms. Moreover, it is predicted that our result may have scientific influence on both research in connectedness and eco-psychology.DisclosureNo significant relationships.