Problematic Facebook Research Articles

Co-occurrence of problematic facebook and video game use: prevalence and association with mental health disorders among adolescents

IntroductionThe rapid proliferation of technology and its impact on adolescents’ lives have raised concerns about addictive behaviors and its potential consequences, including behavioral and mental health problems. This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors associated with the co-occurrence of Problematic Facebook Use and Problematic Video game Use among Tunisian adolescents.MethodologyWe conducted a cross-sectional study in the urban area of Sousse governorate in Tunisia during the 2018/2019 school year. We selected a representative sample of high school students enrolled in public educational institutions in Sousse. Data collection was performed through a self-administered structured questionnaire, which gathered information on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and mental health disorders. Problematic Facebook Use was assessed using the validated Arabic version of the Bergen Scale, while Problematic Video Game Use was measured using the 21-point Lemmens Scale, which was translated into Arabic. Statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS program (version 20).ResultsWe enrolled a total of 1342 high school students in our study, of whom, 63.2% were female with a mean age of 17.5 ± 1.44 years. The prevalence of Problematic Facebook Use and Problematic Video Game Use was 28.3% and 13% respectively. Regarding the co-occurrence of the two problematic behaviors, 31.3% of participants faced a singular addictive behavior, either related to problematic Facebook or video game use, while 5% had both addictive behaviors simultaneously. In a multivariate analysis, risk factors for the co-occurrence of Problematic Facebook and Video Game Use, in decreasing order of significance, included severe depression (AOR = 4.527; p = 0.003), anxiety (AOR = 4.216; p = 0.001), male gender (AOR = 4.130; p < 0.001), problematic internet use (AOR = 3.477; p = 0.006), as well as moderate depression (AOR = 3.048; p = 0.007).ConclusionOur study found that Problematic Facebook and Video Game Use were prevalent among Tunisian adolescents. The co-occurrence of these disorders is strongly linked to male gender, problematic internet use, depression, and anxiety disorders. These findings underscore the urgency of implementing tailored and effective awareness and prevention programs to address these emerging challenges.

The relationship of problematic Facebook use and Facebook context on empathy for pain processing: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

Positive and negative consequences of using social media (SM) have been observed. Excessive use of SM, such as Facebook, can lead to problematic behaviours, resulting in emotional and social functioning changes. Moreover, the problematic use of SM is negatively associated with empathy's affective and cognitive components. The present study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to test empathy differences between problematic and non-problematic Facebook users. In addition, the Facebook-related context that may modulate empathic response was investigated. Fifty-two participants (25 females; Mage = 24.6 years [SD ± 2.9]) took part in the study and were classified into two groups: non-problematic and problematic Facebook users. The study was conducted using the empathy for pain paradigm with three media-related contextual conditions: newspaper, Facebook-related, and neutral. The results indicated there was a statistically significant difference between the left and right side of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) among nonproblematic Facebook users when observing pain stimuli in the context of Facebook. For problematic Facebook users, there was significantly more activity on the left side of the PFC (compared to the right side) when observing painful stimuli in the newspaper context and non-painful stimuli in a neutral context. The differences in haemodynamic activity registered by fNIRS between the left and right PFCs were observed in both groups and may have resulted from difficulties in regulating emotional response and attention, particularly among the problematic Facebook user group.

Assessing problematic Facebook use: Psychometric properties of the Polish version of Facebook Intrusion Questionnaire

IntroductionFacebook is used for work, entertainment, and communication. However, there is potential for problematic or addictive use that can cause significant mental and physical health problems. ObjectiveThe Facebook Intrusion Questionnaire (FIQ; Elphinston & Noller, 2011) is one of the most widely used measures of problematic Facebook use, but no previous study has validated this measure in a Polish population. The present study aimed to validate the Polish adaptation of the FIQ. MethodThe authors recruited five large samples of Polish Facebook users (n=12,753; Mage=21 years; 66% female) to examine the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the questionnaire. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported its unidimensional factor structure (χ2(df=19)=602.64, p<.001; RMSEA=.069, SRMR=.032, CFI=.962, TLI=.943). ResultsItem response theory showed that the adapted FIQ items had adequate discrimination and information levels. The Polish version of the FIQ showed good internal consistency and adequate construct validity. ConclusionOverall, the results suggest that the FIQ is a reliable and valid measure for use with a Polish population.

Exploring the Emotional Pathway from Motivation to Facebook* Addiction in a Vietnamese Undergraduate Sample.

Facebook* is one of the largest social media platforms in the world. The use of Facebook* can lead to several problems, such as Facebook* addiction. Previous studies have investigated the effects of reinforcing factors on problematic Facebook* use, but negative factors have been little studied. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between motivation and Facebook* addiction, and examine the influence of positive and negative emotions, which serve as reinforcement and punishment when using Facebook*. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 294 university students in Vietnam, with a mean age of 19.93 and a standard deviation of 1.27. The Bergen Facebook* Addiction Scale, the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience, and the Motives for Facebook* Use Scale were used to collect the data. SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 20 software were used for data analysis. The results indicated that the students' motivations to maintain relationships and pass time were positively associated with Facebook* usage, while motivations for virtual community, entertainment, "coolness," and companionship did not significantly influence Facebook* usage. This use of Facebook* was found to elicit both positive and negative emotions. Both these emotions were associated with an increase in Facebook* addiction among the students. These results support the view that Facebook* addiction is positively associated with satisfaction with Facebook* use, and that both positive and negative emotions are associated with an increase in Facebook* addiction. Several limitations of the study are clarified.

Exploring the correlates of Facebook addiction and its impact on academic performance among youths of Tripura

Growing incidences of Facebook addiction or problematic Facebook use are fast becoming a matter of concern in the Western countries. The popularity of social networking sites is increasing in India as well, circumventing the barriers of age, gender, and place of residence. The rapid dispersal of Facebook is of particular concern as it has given rise to a new phenomenon termed as Facebook addiction, particularly among the students and youths. Little academic research has been done so far in a far-flung State in the North Eastern part of India. This paper attempts to fill this gap by studying Facebook Addiction among 3356 youth participants from the state of Tripura. Male participants were found to be significantly more at risk for Facebook addiction, as compared to the females. Utilizing the logistic regression model, this study could also bring into light the predictors and correlates of Facebook addiction which include the location of residence, educational qualification of parents, and the overall purpose of internet usage, such as online shopping, cloud storage, attending online classes and others. Dysfunctional or uncontrolled Facebook usage has also been found to be linked with adverse interference in the academic performance of the participants.

Negative psychological and physiological effects of social networking site use: The example of Facebook.

Social networking sites (SNS), with Facebook as a prominent example, have become an integral part of our daily lives and more than four billion people worldwide use SNS. However, the (over-)use of SNS also poses both psychological and physiological risks. In the present article, we review the scientific literature on the risk of Facebook (over-)use. Addressing this topic is critical because evidence indicates the development of problematic Facebook use ("Facebook addiction") due to excessive and uncontrolled use behavior with various psychological and physiological effects. We conducted a review to examine the scope, range, and nature of prior empirical research on the negative psychological and physiological effects of Facebook use. Our literature search process revealed a total of 232 papers showing that Facebook use is associated with eight major psychological effects (perceived anxiety, perceived depression, perceived loneliness, perceived eating disorders, perceived self-esteem, perceived life satisfaction, perceived insomnia, and perceived stress) and three physiological effects (physiological stress, human brain alteration, and affective experience state). The review also describes how Facebook use is associated with these effects and provides additional details on the reviewed literature, including research design, sample, age, and measures. Please note that the term "Facebook use" represents an umbrella term in the present work, and in the respective sections it will be made clear what kind of Facebook use is associated with a myriad of investigated psychological variables. Overall, findings indicate that certain kinds of Facebook use may come along with significant risks, both psychologically and physiologically. Based on our review, we also identify potential avenues for future research.

Self-Control and Digital Media Addiction: The Mediating Role of Media Multitasking and Time Style.

As being an initiating actions and resisting short-term temptations, self-control is negatively related to digital media addiction. However, many studies indicate that there are variables that may mediate this relationship. The present study investigated the mediating role of media multitasking and time style in the relationship between self-control and digital media addiction. The study included N= 2193 participants with a mean age of M = 23.26 (SD= 6.98) from seven countries: Brazil, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Poland, Turkey, and the United States. The authors used the Brief Self-Control Scale, the Media Multitasking Scale, the Time Styles Scale, the Problematic Smartphone Use Scale, the Problematic Internet Use Scale, and the Problematic Facebook Use Scale. Results revealed that self-control was negatively related to all assessed types of problematic digital media use, namely problematic Internet use, problematic smartphone use, and problematic Facebook use. Media multitasking was found to be a significant mediator of the relationship between self-control and problematic digital media use. High self-control can be preventative against uncontrolled and automatic social media checking, whereas low self-control fosters the habit of continuously remaining current.

The Relationship between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Problematic Facebook Use: The Indirect Effects of Perceived Stress.

Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms. As well as facilitating contact and the exchange of information, the use of Facebook can lead to problematic Facebook use (PFU) among a small number of users. Previous studies have shown the relationship between PFU and early maladaptive schemas (EMSs). Additionally, previous studies have reported associations between PFU and perceived stress and between EMSs and perceived stress. Consequently, the main aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between PFU and EMSs and the role of perceived stress as a mediator of this relationship. The study comprised 993 Facebook users (505 female, M = 27.38 years, SD = 4.79, aged from 18 to 35 years). PFU was assessed using the eight-item Facebook Intrusion Scale, perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Questionnaire, and EMSs were assessed using the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3). The results suggested that insufficient self-control/self-discipline, approval seeking, dependence/incompetence, enmeshment, and entitlement/grandiosity schemas were positively associated with PFU. There was also a negative relationship between PFU and EMSs, such as social isolation/alienation and defectiveness/shame schemas. The findings showed that PFU was positively associated with external stress. Additionally, external stress had an indirect effect in the relationship between mistrust/abuse and PFU, failure to achieve and PFU, and self-punitiveness and PFU. These results contribute to a better understanding of PFU development mechanisms associated with early maladaptive schemas and perceived stress. Additionally, knowing the EMSs associated with PFU and perceived stress might improve the therapeutic interventions and prevention of this problematic behavior.

A longitudinal investigation on problematic Facebook use, psychological distress and well-being during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic

The social isolation and the subsequent, increased use of Social Networking Sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic have had an impact on subjective well-being around the world. The present longitudinal study examined whether changes in psychological distress and well-being during the Italian second wave of the pandemic differ among people with different levels of Problematic Facebook Use (PFU). A total of 493 participants (Mage = 24.55 ± 7.25; 80.3% females) completed measures of passive use of Facebook, social comparison orientation on Facebook, fear of missing out, psychological distress (depressive symptoms and fear of COVID-19 pandemic) and well-being across three waves. Latent class analysis (LCA) categorized participants into three groups with different PFU levels: healthy users, moderate PFU users, and high PFU users. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) showed that the between-person level (class membership) accounted for most of the variability in psychological distress and well-being. No significant changes were found in psychological distress and well-being over time, but the High PFU users showed greater levels of psychological distress and lower levels of well-being at each time point. The findings of this study suggest that the relationship between PFU, psychological distress and well-being may reflect trait-like time-invariant differences between individuals rather than state-like changes.

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.

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.

An exploratory analysis of the relationship of problematic Facebook use with loneliness and self-esteem: the mediating roles of extraversion and self-presentation.

Studies indicate that loneliness and self-esteem are predictive factors of problematic social media use. Further, it is proposed that self-presentation and extraversion may explain individual differences in online activity and problematic social media use. The present study confirms the relationship of loneliness and self-esteem with problematic Facebook use and investigates the hypothesis that these psychological factors may be linked to problematic Facebook use through their association with self-presentation and extraversion. The sample of university students consisted of 477 Facebook users, 64% females, aged 18–64. Social media usage intensity was assessed by collecting passive data on the total time spent and the number of sessions on Facebook per day for the last 6 months. The psychological factors, personality, motives and problematic Facebook use were assessed via self-report measures. Results showed that the relationship of loneliness and self-esteem with problematic Facebook use was significantly positive and negative respectively. The relationship between self-esteem and problematic Facebook use was found to be inconsistently mediated by both self-presentation and extraversion, while loneliness was partially mediated by self-presentation only. The total effect of loneliness and self-esteem remained positive and negative respectively, although extraversion and self-presentation had a suppressing effect on the relationship between self-esteem and problematic Facebook use. Further, the prevalence of ‘at-risk’ Facebook users was found to be 6.0%. It was also determined that the usage intensity of ‘at-risk’ users was significantly different from other Facebook users. These results highlight the existence of different patterns of associations linking psychological factors, usage intensity and problematic Facebook use.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03505-0.

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.

Utilisation problématique d’Instagram, orientation à la comparaison sociale, estime de soi physique et sociale : étude exploratoire

IntroductionEven though Instagram use and popularity have been developed increasingly, many studies investigating have been carried out on problematic social networks use or problematic Facebook use. However, problematic Instagram use and underlying factors related to it are little known. ObjectiveBased on the I-PACE model (Brand et al., 2016), the aim of this exploratory study is to assess problematic Instagram use and to examine the links between behavioural characteristics (number of hours spent on Instagram, of self-photos, of likes on posts and followers), social comparison orientation, physical and social self-esteem, and problematic Instagram use in a sample of young adults French university students from 20 to 26 years old. MethodSixty-six participants have completed paper-and-pencil questionnaires including the Instagram Addiction Scale (IAS), the physical appearance subscale of “Physical Self-Perception Profile” (SEISP), the “Social Self-Esteem Inventory” (IESS), and the Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM). ResultsThirty percent of participants have a problematic Instagram use. Correlational analysis revealed that behavioural characteristics and social comparison orientation are positively associated with problematic Instagram use, while physical and social self-esteem were negatively associated with it. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that social comparison orientation, physical self-esteem, number of hours spent on Instagram and number of followers were the most powerful predictors of problematic Instagram use. ConclusionResults provide a better understanding regarding to psychological factors linked to problematic Instagram use and allow to consider therapeutic and preventive interventions.

Prevalence of Facebook Addiction in a Teenage Population: About 110 Cases

IntroductionFacebook use among Teenagers has become a very common phenomenon. Its use can resuly in Facebook addiction .ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of problematic Facebook use among a sample of school-going adolescents.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional and descriptive study carried out among 110 school-going adolescenthe at 2 state colleges in Sidi Bouzid. We used a pre-established self-questionnaire containing 2 parts: a part exploring the socio-demographic data of the adolescent and a psychometric part: Bergen Facebook addiction Scale.Results Study participants had a mean age of 14.4 years with extremes of 12 to 17 years. The sex ratio (M / F) (46/64) of the participants was 0.71.In our population, 13 students (11.8%) were smokers. Two students (1.8%) consumed alcohol. Cannabis use was noted in only one student.The majority of students (102), or 92.7%, had been online for more than a year.The daily Facebook connection time was more than 4 hours for 20.9%. Boredom was the number one reason for logging into Facebook for 82 students (74.5%) followed by curiosity for 45 students (40.9%). Fifteen students (13.6%) were addicted to Facebook (score&gt; 10 on the Bergen Addiction Scale.ConclusionsFacebook can be a useful and interesting tool to maintain and develop a network of relationships and create new ones. Its problematic use or addiction to Facebook has become a new scourge of public health. Faced with the negative impact of this addiction, It would be necessary to rationalize this use.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Predicting comments on Facebook photos: Who posts might matter more than what type of photo is posted

The number of likes and comments received to social media posts and images are influential for users’ self-presentation and problematic Facebook use. The aim of this study was to highlight the most relevant factors predicting the popularity (i.e., the probability to receive at a least a comment) of Facebook photos based on: (i) Facebook user-related features; (ii) Facebook photo-related features; and (iii) and psychological variables. A mixed approach was used, including objective data extracted from Facebook (regarding users’ characteristics and photo features) as well as answers to a questionnaire. Participants were 227 Facebook users (M = 25.01(1.05) years). They were asked to answer a questionnaire and provide a copy of their Facebook profile data. A total of 180,547 photos receiving a total of 122,689 comments were extracted. Results showed that user-related features (Facebook network and activities) were the most relevant in predicting image popularity accurately. It seems that who posts a Facebook photo matters more than the type of photo posted and the psychological profile of the user. Results are discussed within a psychological perspective.Future research should look at the sentiment (positive vs. negative) of the comments received by different types of photos. This is the first study exploring what makes a Facebook photo popular using objective data rather than self-reported frequency of Facebook activity only. Results might advance current methods and knowledge about potential problematic behaviors on social media.

Needs affordance as a key factor in likelihood of problematic social media use: Validation, latent Profile analysis and comparison of TikTok and Facebook problematic use measures

Despite increasing concerns of maladaptive cognitive responses associated with social media, estimates of its prevalence are lacking in the literature. Further, existing studies have disproportionately focused on Facebook, while ignoring the penetration of TikTok and concerns of associated maladaptive behaviors. This study aims to 1) validate scale measures for problematic Facebook and TikTok use (PFU and PTTU) 2) comparatively assess the underlying cognitive pathways of the PFU and PTTU among a sample of university students, 3) determine the cut-off score of the PTTU assessment scale using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) and 4) evaluate the contribution of specific criteria in the diagnosis of PTTU. The scales used to assess PFU and PTTU were found to have appropriate psychometric properties. The scores between the PFU and PTTU scales were found to be strongly associated, however, the relationship was stronger in the group of Facebook users than in the group of TikTok users. Further, the manifestation of problematic use was not consistent between TikTok and Facebook. Loneliness was positively associated with both PFU and PTTU, while self-esteem was negatively associated with PFU only. The optimal cut-off score of the PTTU scale was determined to be 21, giving 8.7% as the estimated prevalence of PTTU. The criteria with the highest predictive power in the diagnosis of addiction among university students were “withdrawal” and “relapse”. The study concludes that while the underlying addiction pathways are similar between platforms the manifestation of maladaptive behavior and the drivers for usage intensity and problematic use are unique.

PROBLEMATIC FACEBOOK USE AND DEPRESSION AMONG HUE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF STRESS AND ANXIETY

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of stress and anxiety in the relationship between problematic Facebook use and depression among Hue University students. A total of 211 Hue University students participated in responding to Bergen's Facebook addiction scale and its shortened version DASS 21. Research results show that stress and anxiety play a mediating role in the path from history. Facebook use has a problem with depression in students. The findings of this study provide the basis for recommending depression prevention and treatment measures for students who use Facebook with problems.

Lack of measurement invariance in a widely used Facebook addiction scale may thwart progress in research on social-network-use disorder: A cross-cultural study

The social-network-use disorder (SNUD) was recently proposed as a potentially useful diagnosis in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision category “other specified disorders due to addictive behaviors.” Problematic Facebook use is among the most often investigated types of SNUD. Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) is the most widely used measure of problematic Facebook use. However, little data support the scale's measurement invariance across different cultural groups or age groups. The present study investigated the validity and measurement invariance of the BFAS across different countries, different age groups, and different cohorts. BFAS was administered alongside depression, anxiety, and stress measures in a total sample of 5470 university and high school students from three continents and five countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates. The scale showed a lack of measurement invariance across different group comparisons. Patterns of error term correlations, factor loadings, reliability coefficients, relationships with criterion variables, as well as prevalence estimates differed in groups of interest. Lack of measurement invariance and consequently substantially different functioning of the scales across samples limits any cross-cultural comparisons and generalizability of studies' results on problematic Facebook use. Potential causes of poor cross-cultural performance of BFAS and consequences for research on SNUD are discussed.

Boredom and problematic Facebook use in adolescents: What is the relationship considering trait or state boredom?

Boredom is an unpleasant experience caused by the lack of being engaged in satisfying activities. It can be caused by external circumstances (state boredom, SB) or by individual determinants (trait boredom, TB). Although several studies have attested the impact of boredom on adolescents’ risk-taking behaviours, the relationships between boredom and problematic Facebook use (PFU), which has grown exponentially among adolescents, have not been deeply analysed to date. This study aimed at exploring a possible mechanism through which TB, PFU, and SB are related. We hypothesised and tested the mediating role of PFU in the relationship between TB and SB. Participants were 204 Italian adolescents (57% male, Mage = 17.13, SD = 1.61). Analyses showed a significant positive indirect effect of TB on SB through PFU that acted as a mediator. Specifically, individual sensitivity to boredom may enhance the likelihood that teenagers employ Facebook excessively and in addictive way; in turn, PFU may enhance adolescents’ situational experience of boredom. Although preliminary, findings indicate the need to further investigate the relationship between TB, PFU, and SB in youth.