Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale Research Articles

Smartphone use and well-being of adolescent girls: a population-based study

Background and objectivesRecent studies have reported an increasing incidence of anxiety among adolescent girls, and associated this with self-reported social media use. This study aimed to measure smartphone and social...

The Bergen–Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS): longitudinal measurement invariance across a two-year interval

ABSTRACT Objective This study aims to examine the longitudinal measurement invariance of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) over a two-year interval, addressing a gap in research on its consistency over time. Method Confirmatory Factor Analysis with a robust maximum likelihood chi-square estimator was utilised to assess the BSMAS among 276 adults (mean age = 31.86 years; SD = 9.94 years; 71% male) at three time points across two years. This method evaluates the scale’s structural consistency and reliability longitudinally. Results The analysis supported full measurement invariance (configural, metric, scalar, and error variance) of the BSMAS, indicating stable measurement properties over time. Furthermore, temporal stability and equivalency of the BSMAS total mean scores were confirmed across the three-time points, suggesting consistent measurement of social media addiction. Conclusions The findings validate the BSMAS as a reliable instrument for measuring social media addiction over extended periods. Demonstrating its psychometric stability enhances its utility for longitudinal studies, making it a valuable tool for tracking changes in social media addiction behaviours. These results have significant implications for future research and clinical practice, highlighting the BSMAS’s applicability in long-term studies.

Comparison of Tiktok Application Users Between the Implementation of Creativity and Addictive Behavior

TikTok application users have now reached all levels of society, especially teenagers who use the TikTok application as a medium to express themselves. Teenagers who access TikTok are considered to have the opportunity to use creative abilities in creating content on TikTok, but the Tiktok application, in fact, will also have a bad impact on individuals, especially teenagers who are still very unstable. Tiktok can have a negative impact where it makes its users more and more addicted every day. This study aims to understand and analyze the implementation of creativity and addictive behavior of TikTok users. Implementation using Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT) and addictive behavior using Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. There are four aspects of creativity, namely fluency, flexibility, elaboration, and originality. While addictive behavior there are aspects of importance, tolerance, mood swings, withdrawal and relapse. The method used is quantitative descriptive, to find out more between creativity and addiction that TikTok users use. Based on the findings, 85% were able to implement their creativity on the TikTok application with the biggest aspect lying in the flexibility in utilizing the ability to identify problems or provide solutions to their problems by utilizing the features and visualizations available on TikTok. As for addictive behavior, it was found that 75% of addictive behavior existed, with the largest dimension in mood swings, this is because TikTokers are looking for fun and entertainment to forget for a moment about the problem.

Social media addiction: associations with attachment style, mental distress, and personality.

Social media bring not only benefits but also downsides, such as addictive behavior. While an ambivalent closed insecure attachment style has been prominently linked with internet and smartphone addiction, a similar analysis for social media addiction is still pending. This study aims to explore social media addiction, focusing on variations in attachment style, mental distress, and personality between students with and without problematic social media use. Additionally, it investigates whether a specific attachment style is connected to social media addiction. Data were collected from 571 college students (mean age = 23.61, SD = 5.00, 65.5% female; response rate = 20.06%) via an online survey administered to all enrolled students of Sigmund Freud PrivatUniversity Vienna. The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) differentiated between students addicted and not addicted to social media. Attachment style was gauged using the Bielefeld Partnership Expectations Questionnaire (BFPE), mental distress by the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18), and personality by the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10). Of the total sample, 22.7% of students were identified as addicted to social media. For personality, it was demonstrated that socially media addicted (SMA) students reported significantly higher values on the neuroticism dimension compared to not socially media addicted (NSMA) students. SMA also scored higher across all mental health dimensions-depressiveness, anxiety, and somatization. SMA more frequently exhibited an insecure attachment style than NSMA, specifically, an ambivalent closed attachment style. A two-step cluster analysis validated the initial findings, uncovering three clusters: (1) secure attachment, primarily linked with fewer occurrences of social media addiction and a lower incidence of mental health problems; (2) ambivalent closed attachment, generally associated with a higher rate of social media addiction and increased levels of mental health problems; and (3) ambivalent clingy attachment, manifesting a medium prevalence of social media addiction and a relatively equitable mental health profile. The outcomes are aligned with previous research on internet and smartphone addiction, pointing out the relevance of an ambivalent closed attachment style in all three contexts. Therapeutic interventions for social media addiction should be developed and implemented considering these findings.

Social media addiction and academic engagement as serial mediators between social anxiety and academic performance among college students

BackgroundSocial anxiety has been shown to affect college students’ academic performance. However, the role of social media addiction and academic engagement in this association is unclear.MethodsA total 2661 college students completed a self-report questionnaire including Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Utrecht Student Work Engagement Scale for Students, and the grade point average. Hayes’ PROCESS macro for SPSS was employed to test the serial mediation effect.ResultsResults indicated that social anxiety was negatively related to academic performance, only academic engagement played a single mediating role in the relationship between social anxiety and academic performance, meanwhile social media addiction and academic engagement acted as serial mediators between social anxiety on academic performance.ConclusionsSocial media addiction and academic engagement can explain the potential mechanisms of the association between social anxiety and academic performance, which have implications for devising intervention strategies to enhance the mental health and academic outcomes of college students.

INVESTIGATION OF THE PREDICTION LEVEL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS RELATED TO SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION

The aim of this study is to reveal the predictive levels of psychological symptoms of social media addiction in adults. The study was conducted among adults living in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The sample of the study consisted of 514 adult individuals, 63% (n=324) female and 37% (n=190) male, selected according to the convenience sampling method. In this study, Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and socio-demographic information form were used to collect data. Frequency distribution, percentage calculation, ANOVA, correlation test and regression analysis were performed using SPSS software. As a result, a statistically significant difference was found in the level of social media addiction according to the duration of daily use of social media. A statistically significant difference was found in the level of social media addiction according to the time of using social media. A moderate statistically significant positive correlation was found between social media addiction and psychological symptom subscales. Depression and anger/aggression among psychological symptoms were found to be significant predictors of social media addiction. The results of the research were discussed in the context of the relevant literature and then suggestions were made for future studies.

Social Media Addiction Predicts Compromised Mental Health as well as Perceived and Objective Social Isolation in Denmark: A Longitudinal Analysis of a Nationwide Survey Linked to Register Data

AbstractSocial media addiction has previously been linked to compromised mental health and social isolation; however, most studies are cross-sectional or based on convenience samples. The objective of the current study was to assess the extent to which social media addiction predicts compromised mental health and social isolation (including bi-directionality) in a large prospective sample of Danish adults. Data stem from a nationwide longitudinal Danish survey of 1958 adults (aged 16+) conducted in 2020 and 2021. The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) was used. Validated scales were used to assess depression, mental wellbeing, and loneliness. A total of 2.3% screened positive for social media addiction. As compared to no symptoms, social media addiction was associated with an elevated risk for depression (OR = 2.71; 95% CI 1.08, 6.83) and negatively with mental wellbeing (coef = −1.29; 95% CI −2.41, −0.16). Similarly, social media addiction was associated with an elevated risk of loneliness (OR = 4.40; 95% CI 1.20, 16.19), and negatively with social network size (coef = −0.46; 95% CI −0.86, −0.06). There is a need for preventive actions against addictive social media use, as this poses significant risk to mental health and social functioning in the working age population.

Personality Traits, Self-Esteem, Life Satisfaction and Problematic Social Media Use Among Young Adults

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between personality traits, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and problematic social media use (PSMU) among young adults. The research was conducted among 616 young adults (70.3% females, 22.8±3.8 years). The measures used were the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Self-Liking/Self-Competence Scale, Personal Wellbeing Index, International Personality Item Pool short version, and Social Media Use scale. 94% of participants used social media for more than an hour on average daily. The estimated prevalence of PSMU was 1.6%. PSMU was positively correlated with gender and neuroticism, and negatively with age, extraversion, conscientiousness, intellect, self-liking, self-competence, and life satisfaction. Younger age, female gender, higher neuroticism, and lower personal well-being were significant predictors of PSMU.

The mediating effect of social network identity management on the relationship between personality traits and social media addiction among pre-service teachers

BackgroundThe use of social media has become an important part individuals’ daily lives and is used in many daily life activities, such as social interaction, education, and shopping. However, with the increase in the use of social media, a minority of individuals can experience problematic use (and in extreme cases, ‘social media addiction’). The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of personality traits on social media addiction and the mediating role of social network identity management in this relationship among preservice teachers.MethodsThe data were collected from 275 pre-service teachers at a university in Türkiye. The survey included the Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10), the Social Network Identity Management Scale, the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, and a personal information form.ResultsThe findings of the study indicated that there was a relationship between personality traits, social network identity management, and social media addiction. Specifically, neuroticism was positively associated with social media addiction, whereas extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness were negatively associated. The results also indicated that social network identity management mediated the effect of personality traits on social media addiction.ConclusionGiven that the present investigation was only a preliminary study, further research is needed to examine whether social network identity management is an important determinant in understanding the relationship between personality traits and social media addiction.

Adiksi Media Sosial Sebagai Penyebab Harga Diri Rendah Pada Usia Dewasa Muda

The use of social media has increased in the last few years. Social media has a negative impact on a person's self-esteem because they make social comparisons based on what they see on social media. This study aims to examine the relationship between the level of social media use and the level of self-esteem in young adults. The study used a cross-sectional approach, and the population in this study was college students (19-20 years old) in Malang, Indonesia. The sample consisted of 96 respondents, selected using purposive sampling. Respondents filled out the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) questionnaire and the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory (CSEI). Data were analyzed using the Spearman Rank correlation test in SPSS. The results showed that 57.3% of respondents were at the alert category level of social media use, and 63.5% of respondents had very low self-esteem. The correlation test showed a negative relationship between social media use and self-esteem (p-value = 0.044; r = -0.206). The strength of the relationship is weak and has a negative direction, meaning that the higher the level of social media use, the lower the self-esteem level will be. Alert-level social media use among young adults has an effect on low levels of self-esteem.

Validation of the ACSID-11 for consistent screening of specific Internet-use disorders based on ICD-11 criteria for gaming disorder: A multitrait-multimethod approach

IntroductionWith the inclusion of gaming disorder in the ICD-11, diagnostic criteria were introduced for this relatively new disorder. These criteria may be applied to other potential specific Internet-use disorders. The 11-item Assessment of Criteria for Specific Internet-use Disorders (ACSID-11) was developed for consistent screening of gaming disorder, online buying-shopping disorder, online pornography-use disorder, social networks-use disorder, and online gambling disorder. This study tested the construct validity of the ACSID-11, including convergent and divergent measures. MethodsThe ACSID-11 measures five behavioral addictions with the same set of items by following the principles of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). The ACSID-11 was administered to a convenience sample of active Internet users (N = 1597) together with validated and established measures of each specific Internet-use disorder along with screeners for mental health. Included are the Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10), the Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale (BSAS), the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS), the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Berlin Inventory of Gambling behavior – Screening (BIG-S). The ACSID-11 was compared convergently and divergently through a multitrait-multimethod approach along with contingency tables with the other Internet-use disorder screeners. ResultsThe multitrait-multimethod results shows that each behavior assessed with the ACSID-11 has moderate to strong correlations (r's from 0.462 to 0.609) with the scores of the corresponding established measures and, furthermore, positive correlations (r's from 0.122 to 0.434) with measures of psychological distress and further shows that the ACSID-11 can be used for a comprehensive assessment of different behaviors. The contingency tables reveal large divergences between the ACSID-11 and other screening instruments concerning the classification of problematic specific Internet use based on the given cut-off values. ConclusionThe current work provides additional validation for the ACSID-11. Accordingly, this tool can be considered as reliable and valid for the simultaneous assessment of different Internet-use disorders: gaming disorder, online buying-shopping disorder, online pornography use disorder, social networks use disorder, and online gambling disorder. With a subsequent clinical validation of the scale and the proposed cut-off score, the ACSID-11 will be a thoroughly validated useful screening tool for clinical practice.

ASSOCIATION OF SYMPTOMATOLOGIC DEPRESSION WITH SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA

Introduction: Depression is a mental disorder that affects almost 2.3% of Malaysians and is more prevalent among Malaysian students. "Websites and applications that are utilized for interacting with others and their increasing prevalence have suggestive that people are obsessed to it" is the definition of social media. A strong correlation has been made between depression and social media addiction but there was a lack of such specific studies in Malaysia. This study is aimed at identifying the association of social media addiction with depression among university students in Malaysia. Methods:This research was conducted on Malaysian undergraduate and postgraduate students using an online questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic characteristics and two validated questionnaires of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-10) and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Results:A total of 381 responses were analyzed and the Pearson Correlation was found to be (r = 0.671) with a p-value of < 0.001 which suggests a strong positive and statistically significant correlation between social media addiction and depression. Conclusion:In summary, an increase in addiction to social media causes depression.

Social Media Addiction and Disordered Eating Behavior Among University Students: Appearance Based Rejection Sensitivity as Mediator

Social media has become a necessary part of people's lives in the current era. However, compulsive use of social media could have severe consequences for the psychological and social health of users. The current research was carried out to study the relationship between social media addiction, appearance-based rejection sensitivity, and disordered eating behaviors among university students. Data was selected through non-probability convenience sampling, and a sample of 300 university students aged 18-30 years (M=21.34, SD= 5.86) was collected. The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Rejection Sensitivity Scale, and Disordered Eating Behavior Scale were used for assessment. Results indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between social media addiction, appearance-based rejection sensitivity, and disordered eating behavior in students. Also, rejection sensitivity acts as a mediator between social media and disordered eating behavior. The study found disordered eating behavior is more common in women than men. This research implies that social media can serve as a significant factor in appearance-based rejection sensitivity and eating disorders in students and young people. This study could create awareness about appropriate social media use and its consequences on students. It would also help in devising strategies that could prevent the damage it could have on the mental and physical health of students, particularly appearance comparisons and judgments, risk of depression, and appearance-based rejection sensitivities.

Problematic Social Media Use in Young Adults: A Mixed Serial-Parallel Mediation Model Involving Alexithymia, Defense Mechanisms, and Fear of Missing Out.

Problematic social media use (PSMU) can have profound and detrimental effects across various domains of life. As a result, scientific investigations into the risk factors associated with this phenomenon can hold substantial practical implications within the clinical and preventive realms. Consistently with this framework, this study aimed to examine the relationship between certain variables and PSMU, with a specific focus on alexithymia, defense mechanisms, and fear of missing out (FoMO). A sample of 340 young adults (Mage = 26.42 years; SD = 3.689) completed an online survey, including the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, FoMO scale, 40-Item Defense Style Questionnaire, and 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Results showed a statistically significant mixed serial-parallel mediation model. A significant total effect in the association between alexithymia and FoMO emerged. Furthermore, defense mechanisms and FoMO significantly and totally mediated this relationship. These findings have the potential to provide valuable insights in the field of clinical research on PSMU, and can offer practical information for enhancing clinical practice.

The “Bubbles”-Study: Validation of ultra-short scales for the assessment of addictive so-cial media use and grandiose narcissism

Intensive engagement in social media use (SMU) can result in the development of addictive tendencies and a decrease of mental health. Enhanced levels of the personality trait narcissism foster addictive SMU. An early identification of persons at risk for the addictive tendencies can contribute to the protection of their mental health. Very brief valid screening instruments implemented in general mental health programs and in therapeutic settings are supportive tools in this regard. In two studies on representative German population samples, we developed and validated four ultra-short scales – the “bubbles” – that consist of only one item per construct/subscale based on the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS; Andreassen, Pallesen, & Griffiths, 2017) and the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI-13; Gentile et al., 2013) for the assessment of addictive SMU (one bubble) and narcissism (one bubble per subscale). The results of Study 1 (N = 700) and Study 2 (N = 770) showed that the bubbles are valid instruments that fit the original instruments on the factor level; the bubbles largely replicated their association pattern with demographic variables, social media-related, personality-related and mental health-related variables. Their shortness prevents fatigue, motivation decrease, and participants’ dropout. Due to their time- and cost-efficiency, the bubbles can be used as brief screening tools in research (e.g., large-scale studies, longitudinal studies) and in praxis (e.g., mental health programs). Future research should validate the bubbles cross-nationally, in children and adolescents, and in clinical contexts.

The relationship between social media addiction and emotional appetite: a cross-sectional study among young adults in Turkey.

The present study focused on the relationship between addiction to social media (SM) and emotional appetite in young adults. Cross-sectional online survey. The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EMAQ) were used, and the duration and frequency of SM tools usage were analysed. Five hundred and twenty-four participants (144 men and 380 women) aged between 18 and 25 years. The mean of SM usage duration of participants was 3·2 ± 2·2 h per d along with a mean of BSMAS score of 16·1 ± 5·9. Concerning emotional appetite, the mean scores for positive and negative aspects of EMAQ were 4·4 ± 1·9 and 3·1 ± 1·2, respectively. The predominant SM tools were YouTube (92·6 %) and Instagram (90·3 %). Notably, a significant association was observed between SM addiction and the frequency of access to YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter, with addiction levels increasing as access frequency rose (P < 0·01). This study demonstrated a possible relationship between SM addiction and emotional appetite among young adults. However, further research with more prominent participants and a lengthier follow-up duration is necessary to elucidate how SM tools affect eating behaviour.

Investigation of social appearance anxiety and self-esteem in individuals planned for aesthetic rhinoplasty.

Recently, aesthetic rhinoplasty surgeries performed to change the external appearance have become increasingly common, especially among young people. This study examined the frequency of social appearance anxiety, self-esteem, and social media use in people with rhinoplasty surgeries for aesthetic concerns. A total of 76 people, including 27 healthy controls and 49 aesthetic rhinoplasty planned cases, were included in the study. All participants were administered the sociodemographic data form, Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BMSAS). The RSE score of the case group was significantly lower than the control group (p<0.001), and the SAAS (p=0.004) and BSMAS (p=0.005) scores were significantly higher. A significant negative correlation was observed between the RSE scale score, SAAS, and BMSAS. There was a significant positive relationship between SAAS and BSMAS. Cut-off values were determined using the ROC analysis. When the value of 1.41 was taken as the cut-off for RSE, 81.6% sensitivity and 74.1% specificity were found and were good predictors. When the value of 21 was taken as the cut-off for SAAS, 83.7% sensitivity and 51.9% specificity were found, and it was found to be a good predictor. When the value of 19 was taken as the cut-off for BSMAS, 42.9% sensitivity, and 88.9% specificity were found, and it was found to be a good predictor. People who undergo aesthetic rhinoplasty have high social appearance anxiety and self-esteem and frequent use of social media. More extensive sample studies are needed to examine the effects of this situation on rhinoplasty.

A Psychological Study of the Impact of Social Media Addiction on Sleep Patterns

This study presents findings from a comprehensive psychological investigation aimed at exploring the impact of social media addiction on sleep patterns among young adults. The research utilized a mixed-methods approach, incorporating quantitative surveys, objective sleep assessments, and qualitative interviews to provide a holistic understanding of the complex relationship between social media use and sleep disturbances. Eightyparticipants aged 18-35 were recruited from diverse demographic backgrounds and assessed for social media addiction using validated scales such as the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Sleep patterns were evaluated using self-report measures (e.g., Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and objective measures such as actigraphy. Psychological factors including anxiety, depression, stress, and self-esteem were also assessed. Results revealed a significant association between social media addiction and disrupted sleep patterns, with higher levels of social media addiction correlating with poorer sleep quality and decreased sleep duration. Qualitative analysis of interviews provided insights into the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship, highlighting factors such as fear of missing out (FOMO), heightened cognitive arousal, and maladaptive coping strategies. The findings underscore the importance of addressing social media addiction as a potential risk factor for sleep disturbances and suggest the need for targeted interventions to promote healthier digital habits and improve sleep hygiene among young adults.

Impact of social media usage on academic performance of university students: Mediating role of mental health under a cross-sectional study in Bangladesh.

Social media is undeniably more accessible and more appreciated today. It is undoubtedly one of the most crucial instruments for student communication. Mental health status can also meaningfully influence the students at the higher levels of the educational institutions. This study aims to evaluate the social media usage of university students and its impact on academic performance and mental health. To examine under confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) several scale measurements were confirmed by justifying the validity and reliability of several necessary indices and structural equation model. The mediation analysis was also estimated to evaluate the students' Social media addiction (employed Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale) under maximum likelihood estimation with 2000 bootstrapping and 95% bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals. This study shows that the usage of social media significantly improves academic performance on psychological well-being, with a Comparative Fit Index of 0.921 and an RMSEA of 0.06 indicating a good fit of the CFA model. Finally, we exhibit a strong statistically significant positive impact of social media usage on academic success, and as supporting the hypothesis, the study observed a positive mediating role of mental health between social media addiction and academic performance. The present research investigations produced unique results, that is, online social media enhances mental health and mediates the link between social media addiction and academic performance in Bangladeshi students. This finding also add to the empirical database on social media usage and have significant theoretical and practical ramifications.

Validity, Reliability, and Measurement Invariance of the Thai Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale

Validity, Reliability, and Measurement Invariance of the Thai Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale