Social Networking Addiction Research Articles

The Role of Critical Thinking in Mitigating Social Network Addiction: A Study of TikTok and Instagram Users

This study addresses the growing concern of social network (SN) addiction, with a focus on TikTok and Instagram. Guided by the Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT), we explored the motivations (escapism and social interaction), attitudes (critical thinking), and states (flow and sense of belonging) that influence SN use. Our objective was to investigate whether critical thinking acts as a protective factor against SN addiction. A sample of 332 university students completed questionnaires assessing motivations, attitudes, states, and SN addiction. Critical thinking was measured using the Critical Thinking Attitude Scale (CTAS), and critical thinking skills were assessed through the Critical Reasoning Assessment (CRA). Statistical analyses revealed significant associations between motivations, critical thinking, states, and SN addiction. Specifically, critical thinking (CTAS scores) demonstrated a negative correlation with SN addiction (r = −0.34, p < 0.01), indicating that higher critical thinking is associated with lower SN addiction. Regression analysis further indicated that escapism (β = 0.45, p < 0.01) and social interaction (β = 0.31, p < 0.05) positively predicted SN addiction, while critical thinking negatively predicted SN addiction (β = −0.28, p < 0.01). Additionally, states of flow and sense of belonging showed significant positive correlations with SN addiction (r = 0.42, p < 0.01 and r = 0.37, p < 0.01, respectively). These findings highlight the potential of critical thinking as a safeguard against SN addiction. This study offers valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of SN use, with implications for promoting healthier digital engagement. Understanding the factors influencing SN addiction and the roles of motivations, dispositions, and states can inform interventions aimed at fostering responsible and mindful online behaviors.

Relationship between Social Media Addiction and Urgency in Young Adults

This study intended to inspect the relationship of urgency (positive and negative) and social media addiction (SMA) in young adults. The study also explored the gender differences on SMA and urgency. Two of the proposed hypotheses were put into testing, i.e., i) There is a relationship between SMA and urgency among young adults, and ii) There are gender differences in SMA and urgency. This research used a correlational research design and convenience sampling strategy. A sample of 300 university students was collected that included 150 males and 150 females age ranging between 18-25 years (M= 19.03, SD= 3.29). The data was collected in person through a self-constructed demographic questionnaire, Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS), and Urgency, Premeditation, Perseverance, Sensation Seeking, and Positive Urgency (UPPS-P) Impulsive Behavior Scale. The data was analyzed through SPSS software and Pearson correlation along with independent sample t-test were employed to test the hypotheses. The findings revealed that there is a positive relationship between urgency and SMA among young adults, however, no significant gender differences were found in urgency, social media addiction, and their subscales. This study urges young adults to limit social media use to prevent psychological dependence that can harm both productivity and mental well-being. It highlights the tendency of individuals to turn to social media as an escape when overwhelmed by emotional states, often sharing more than they would in a more balanced state of mind. This emotional oversharing can lead to unintended consequences, impacting personal and professional lives.

Scrolling through adolescence: unveiling the relationship of the use of social networks and its addictive behavior with psychosocial health

BackgroundUnderstanding the relationship of social network use and addictive behaviors with adolescent psychosocial health is crucial in today’s digital age.AimTo verify the associations between social network use, messaging applications, and the addictive behaviors to social network with psychosocial health in Spanish adolescents.MethodsA cross-sectional study was developed with 632 adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years from the Region of Murcia, Spain. The assessment of social network use (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok) involved evaluating the frequency of use of each social network individually using a single-item scale with five response options. WhatsApp use (i.e., a messaging application) was evaluated in the same manner. The Short Social Networks Addiction Scale-6 Symptoms was employed to assess potential addictive behaviors to social network use. The psychosocial health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Generalized linear regression models were conducted, and predictive probabilities of having psychosocial health problems were calculated.ResultsThe predicted probability of presenting psychosocial health problems in the medium users and high users of social networks was 19.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.0 to 27.7), and 16.2% (95% CI 10.2 to 24.6) higher compared to low users, respectively. High usage of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook was associated with increased probabilities of psychosocial health problems, with Facebook showing the highest probabilities, at 31.3% (95% CI 14.8 to 54.2) for medium users and 51.9% (95% CI 26.5 to 76.3) for high users. Additionally, adolescents with addictive behaviors to social network use had from 19.0 to 25.2% probabilities of experiencing psychosocial health problems. Finally, the highest probabilities of having psychosocial health problems were identified in adolescents with high addictive behaviors when using social networks (28.9%; 95% CI 19.3 to 40.8%) and the lowest in those with low addictive behaviors (6.8%; 95% CI 3.3 to 13.6%).ConclusionAdolescents who use social networks more frequently and exhibit more addictive behaviors related to their use are more likely to experience psychosocial health problems compared to those who do not. Facebook showed the strongest association, followed by Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. Our data also revealed that adolescents exhibit various signs of addictive behaviors to social network use.

Social Media Escapism in Poland: Adaptation of a Measure and its Relationship With Thought Suppression and Mental Health.

Research indicates that social media use can lead to addiction, fear of missing out, higher stress levels, anxiety, and experiencing symptoms typical of depression. The purpose of the present study was to conduct a Polish adaptation of the Social Media Escapism Scale and to assess its associations with fear of missing out, Facebook addiction, thought suppression, and the experience of stress, anxiety, and symptoms typical of depression. Two studies were conducted, the first adaptive and the second testing associations. The first study included 383 participants aged 18 to 63 (M = 23.51; SD = 5.7). To adapt the scale, the following were used: the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, the fear of missing out Scale, and the demographic questionnaire. The second study included 417 participants aged 18 to 60 (M = 26.33; SD = 9.7). The study tested relationships using the same three scales used in the first study, and also Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale, and the White Bear Suppression Scale. The Polish version of the Social Media Escapism Scale revealed a univariate structure with strong internal consistency (α = .91). The adapted scale was associated with fear of missing out and Facebook addiction. In study 2, the structural equation modeling analyses revealed that fear of missing out, Facebook addiction and escapism were positively related to thought suppression and the experience of anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms. In addition, thought suppression partially mediated the relationship between harmful media use and anxiety, stress, and depression. Furthermore, the findings reveal a positive correlation between escapism and several psychological constructs, including fear of missing out, Facebook addiction, as well as aspects of depression and suppression, thereby lending support to the convergent validity of the adapted measure under investigation. The results can be used in psychological intervention and developing support and treatment programs for social network addiction.

Exploring the Relationship between Social Networking Addiction, Fear of Missing Out, Loneliness and TikTok Use among Adolescents

With the increasing popularity of social media among adolescents, understanding social networking addiction and its psychological predictors has become extremely important. This study explores the relationships between social networking addiction, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), loneliness and TikTok usage among adolescents.

Academic procrastination and inappropriate use of social networks among university students

ABSTRACT Academic procrastination is the tendency to delay academic activities such as carrying out tasks, studying for exams and similar. This behaviour may be related to the inappropriate use of social networks, especially by those students who procrastinate the most. The aim of this study is to identify latent profiles of academic procrastination and determine whether there are differences in terms of the areas of delay (academic activities, final degree projects, studying for exams and keeping abreast of academic tasks) and the factors of inadequate use of social networks (obsession with networks, a lack of better control and excessive use). The participants in this study were 1784 students from 24 Spanish universities. The Spanish version of the procrastination assessment scale and the questionnaire on addiction to social networks were used for information gathering. A Latent Profile Analysis, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) were carried out to examine the differences between the profiles detected, delay areas and social network addiction factors. The results showed three latent profiles in procrastination behaviour: low, moderate and high procrastination. Moreover, significant differences were observed in terms of the areas of delay and network addiction factors. In conclusion, the greater the procrastinating behaviour, the greater the tendency to delay academic activities and present more frequently inadequate conduct in the use of social networks.

Exploring the Complex Relationship between Social Network Addiction and Mental Health in College Students: A Study Based on Multi-layer Network Analysis

With the development of science and technology, various types of online social media have developed rapidly, attracting a large number of users, but excessive use of social network addiction phenomenon, affecting the life and mental health. For college students, social network addiction is not uncommon and affects their mental health, so it is very important to understand the relationship between social network addiction and mental health and to intervene, so this study aims to explore the relationship between social network addiction and mental health. In this study, 1141 college students completed the Social Networking Addiction Scale and the College Mental Health Scale through an online survey. Social network addiction and mental health were then included as nodes and network analysis was performed using R software. It was found that, in the node network graph, there was a link between the well-being experience dimension of mental health and the mood change dimension of social network addiction, and there was a link between the courage to challenge dimension of mental health and the online social interaction preference dimension of social network addiction. In the total sample and the male sample, "I feel that my life is boring" in the mental health scale is the node with the highest intensity, while "I can't concentrate on my study" in the mental health scale has the highest node intensity in the female sample. From the above results, it is concluded that there is a relationship between some dimensions of social network addiction and some dimensions of mental health among college students. Individuals' boredom affects their mental health and social network addiction, and in the case of female college students, their commitment to study also affects their mental health and social network addiction.

Assessment of the impact of social media addiction on psychosocial behaviour like depression, stress, and anxiety in working professionals

ObjectiveSocial media (SM), with its addictive nature and the accompanying psychosocial challenges such as stress, anxiety, and depression, is the primary factor exacerbating mental health problems and adversely impacting individuals’ wellbeing. Our study’s goal was to determine how SM affects employees’ psychosocial behaviours and assess the various factors that contributed to the employee’s excessive use of SM.MethodsA cross-sectional correlational analysis was conducted. Using a relevant questionnaire on employees, the study was assessed to establish the relationship or association between SM addiction and psychosocial disorders like depression, anxiety, and stress. 200 people with a minimum age of 24 were enrolled in the study. The questionnaire contained the social networking addiction scale (SNAS) and the depression, anxiety, and stress-21 (DASS-21) scales; the data were statistically assessed.ResultsThe association between SM addiction and psychosocial behaviours has been examined using statistical tools including descriptive statistics and the Chi-square analysis. SM addiction has a strong, statistically significant correlation with depression (p = 0.001), stress (p = 0.001), and anxiety (p = 0.001).ConclusionThis study discovered a connection between SM use and depression, stress, and anxiety among working employees, raising questions regarding worries about overuse and addiction to SM. Various factors influencing excessive usage included revealed that employees also majorly over used SM for entertainment, boredom avoidance, constant knowledge sharing, and relationship-building.

Smartphone addiction and adolescent mental health: a cross-sectional study in West Sumatra province

In West Sumatra Province, Indonesia, approximately 13.01% of individuals aged 15 years or older are affected by mental and emotional disorders, ranking it as the third highest among the 34 provinces. Excessive smartphone use has emerged as a potential influencer of mental health, associated with social networking addiction, shyness, and low self-esteem. This study aimed to examine the relationship between smartphone addiction and mental health issues in adolescents using a cross-sectional design. The sample included 283 randomly selected students aged 15-17 years. Smartphone addiction was measured using the smartphone addiction scale-short version (SAS-SV), and mental health was assessed using the strength and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). The study revealed a significant association (p<0.001) between smartphone addiction and mental health problems among adolescents, with 72.1% of respondents experiencing smartphone addiction and 26.9% classified as having abnormal mental health. These findings emphasize the need for increased awareness regarding the negative impact of excessive smartphone use on adolescent mental health. Schools should play a vital role in addressing this issue through the provision of guidance and counseling services. Future research should investigate causal relationships using longitudinal designs and consider diverse populations to enhance the generalizability of the results.

A Comparative Study of Mental Health of Female Adolescents with Social Networking Addiction Status

The aim of the present study was to estimate the impact of social networking addiction status on the mental health of female adolescents. For this purpose, the sample consists of 70 female subjects of age 15 to 20 years. There was one independent variable that varied at two levels i.e., addicted in SNAS (social networking addiction scale) and non-addicted in SNAS (social networking addiction scale). The dependent variable is mental health. The mental health was measured by mental health scale. This scale was constructed and standardized by Dr. Kamlesh Sharma. Obtained data were analyzed by using the Mean value, S.D. value and t-test.

Validation of the brief screening of Social Network Addiction Risk

IntroductionThis study aims to develop a valid and reliable tool to evaluate social network behavior in young adults. MethodsTo validate the Brief screening for Social Network Addiction Risk (BSNA), data from 776 Italian young adults (64.3 % of women) were collected. The suitability of the instrument was statistically assessed. Experts' opinions, item reliability, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and convergent validity were adopted to validate the BSNA items. Internal consistency coefficients were also calculated. ResultsAccording to the statistical analyses, a 2-factor structure was confirmed. The two scales of BSNA assess behavior and motivation frame of social networks use. The second order model proved a global score of risk of social network addiction. Fit indices highlighted the high goodness of the model. Preliminary analyses of prevalence estimated that about 18 % of participants reported problematic Social Network use, which may overtime represent a marker of addictive behavior. ConclusionThe final version of the BSNA, with 11 items evaluated on a 5-point Likert- scale, is a short but valid tool for measuring the risk of social network addiction. It represents a promising screening tool aimed to not overpathologize a behavior, but to furnish adequate insight into this phenomenon.

The Predictive Ability of addiction to Social Networking sites on Self-esteem and Loneliness among Second-year Secondary School Students

The study aimed to identify the predictive ability of addiction to social networking sites on self-esteem and loneliness among a sample of secondary school students. The study sample consisted of 627 male and female students in the second year of secondary education from eight secondary schools. Three scales for measuring social networking addiction, self-esteem and loneliness were used. The results showed that the subscales of the social networking sites addiction that positively predicted self-esteem were conflict and mood modification and negatively predicted tolerance, which negatively predicted loneliness are withdrawal and conflict, and positively predicted tolerance.

Psychological risk factors that predict social networking addiction in students

IntroductionSocial networks (SN) addiction is a serious problem among young adults that requires increased attention.ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to assess the relationships between internet addiction and selected psychological characteristics of university students.MethodsThis is a descriptive and analytical study, conducted over the period from November 2022 to January 2023, among students in various fields. SN addiction was measured using the Social Media Addiction Scale-Student Form (SMAS-SF). The Rosenberg scale was used to assess global self-esteem and the Social Self-Esteem Inventory was used to assess social self-esteem. The Big Five Personality-10 (BFI 10) scale was used to assess the 5 personality dimensions.ResultsA total of 116 students, with an average age of 25.49, took part in the study. Most students (91.4%) were over 20 years old. They were female in 78.4% of cases. They enrolled in postgraduate studies in 55.2% of cases. The majority of students (59,5%) studied medicine. According to the SMAS-SF scale, the average score was 75.87. The mean score for social self-esteem score was 122.03. Sixty-four participants (55.2%) had low and very low self-esteem. The dominant personality dimensions were extraversion and neuroticism in 15.5% each. Addiction to SN was significantly associated with very low global self-esteem (p=0.028) and a lower social self-esteem score (p=0.011). Low conscientiousness and neuroticism were significantly associated with increased SN use (p=0.007, p=0.004 respectively).ConclusionsThis study provides a better understanding of the phenomenon of addiction to SN, and enables us to tailor prevention and care more effectively. The psychological factors associated with this behavior need to be more explored in future research.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

An Investigation into Cyberloafing and Its Associations with Work and Non-Work Factors

Cyberloafing, engaging in non-work-related online activities during work hours, has attracted increasing attention due to its potential to disrupt productivity and organizational functioning. Drawing upon contemporary research, we delve into the underlying mechanisms of cyberloafing. This study examines how cyberloafing behavior is related to work-related factors, including the position in the organization, boredom at work, pay satisfaction, and the non-work factors, such as loneliness and social network addiction. Furthermore, we investigate the role of two demographic variables: marital status and gender. We collected data from 174 white-collar employees working in various private-sector institutions in Sakarya (Türkiye). The findings showed that only two work-related variables, boredom at work and salary satisfaction, are significantly associated with cyberloafing. Gender and marital status were weakly related to cyberloafing. The paper also discusses possible solutions and practical implications for organizations seeking to mitigate the adverse effects of cyberloafing. The paper concluded with suggestions for future research and acknowledged the limitations of this study.

MRNA Expression of Dopamine Receptors in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes of Social Networking Sites (SNS) Addicts: A Case-Control Study

Background: The increasing importance of and reliance on social networking sites (SNS) has led people to frequent usage and addiction. The dopaminergic system plays a crucial role in the addiction process. Additionally, research suggests that the level of expression of brain neurotransmitter receptors may be reflected in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the expression of dopamine receptors in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) among SNS addicts and their relatives. Patients and Methods: The mRNA expression of dopamine D3, D4, and D5 receptors in peripheral blood lymphocytes was assessed using real-time PCR in SNS addicts (n = 10) and their first-degree relatives (n = 10) compared with normal subjects (n = 10). Results: The findings revealed a significant decrease in D5 and D4 receptor mRNA expression in the PBL of SNS addicts compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In contrast, D3 receptor mRNA levels showed no significant change (P > 0.05). First-degree relatives of SNS addicts also exhibited a significant decrease in D5 receptor mRNA levels compared to the control group (P < 0.05), but unlike SNS addicts, D4 receptor levels did not show any significant decrease. D3 levels also remained unchanged (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, considering the genetic factors that strongly influence social network addiction, necessary measures should be implemented to prevent this type of addiction in families and institutions such as schools and universities.

How Peer Victimization in Childhood Affects Social Networking Addiction in Adulthood: An Examination of the Mediating Roles of Social Anxiety and Perceived Loneliness

ABSTRACT Research to date has rarely addressed the association between peer victimization in childhood and social networking addiction in adulthood, much less the internal mechanism underlying that association. By integrating the relational self-system processes model and the cognitive–behavioral model of pathological internet use, our study marked an initial effort to explore whether social anxiety and perceived loneliness independently and/or sequentially mediate the impact of peer victimization on social networking addiction. Using school-based random cluster sampling, we recruited 1,136 students at various colleges in eastern, central, and western China (mean age = 21.98 years, 56.2% women) to complete an online survey. The results confirmed social anxiety’s single mediation effect, perceived loneliness’s single mediation effect, and the serial mediation effect of social anxiety and perceived loneliness between peer victimization and social networking addiction. The findings suggest that certain psychopathological and cognitive factors mediate the effect of peer victimization in childhood on individuals’ symptoms of social networking addiction in adulthood both independently and sequentially. Our research contributes to clarifying how interpersonal stressors lead to psychopathological symptoms, maladaptive cognitions, and, in turn, addictive behavior, which has important implications for theory, interventions, and future research.

Validation of the Russian version of the Social Media Disorder Scale (SMDS) questionnaire in adolescents

Introduction. An urgent medical and social problem at present is the need to develop nationally adapted versions of the questionnaire for assessing dependence on social networks, which is due to the avalanche-like increase in the prevalence of this phenomenon, especially among adolescents and youth, and often associated with disorders of the neuropsychic and somatic spectrum.Aim. Validation of the English-language Social Media Disorder scale (SMDS) questionnaire based on 9 criteria, including psychopathological aspects of engagement with social networking sites.Materials and methods. After the procedures of direct and reverse translation of the questionnaire, the psychometric validation of the test was carried out on a Russian-speaking sample of 3074 adolescents aged 11–19 years (46.1% of boys and 53.9% of girls, median age 14 (13–16) years) – students of 10 educational institutions in Krasnoyarsk. The external validity of the SMDS- RU questionnaire was assessed using the following methods: Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS) – to assess the presence of Internet addicted behavior; the Strengths and Challenges Questionnaire (SDQ) – to analyze the mental health of the subjects.Results. Expiratory and confirmatory factor analyzes demonstrated good agreement between the test components. The results of confirmatory factor analysis confirmed its single-factor structure (CFI = 0.9, TLI = 0.9, RMSEA = 0.06), an acceptable Cronbach’s Alpha value (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.7) indicates its sufficient internal consistency and reliability. The external validity of the SMDS-RU questionnaire was confirmed by established associations with the results of the Chen Internet Addiction Test (CIAS) and the Strengths and Challenges Questionnaire (SDQ) by R. Goodman. Test-retest reliability when measured at 6-month intervals also demonstrated acceptable results: the Spearman correlation coefficient between the sums of scores of two measurements was 0.66, p < 0.001.Conclusion. The Russian-language version of the Social Network Addiction Questionnaire (SMDS-RU) developed for teenagers has sufficient information content, reliability, internal and external validity and can be actively used in the Russian adolescent population.

Adjustment Estimation and Validation of the Addiction to Social Networks Scale Using the SEM Methodology

Currently, social networks serve as communication tools, but the problem of excessive usage leading to addiction is on the rise. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to validate the Social Network addiction (SNA) scale in university students. The study is developed from a quantitative approach, of an exploratory and confirmatory type. The type of sampling is non-probabilistic by self-determination, and the participation of 200 students was achieved, to whom the reason for the survey was explained, who agreed to participate voluntarily. For data analysis, the instrument was validated according to Cronbach's alpha criteria and after, for the analysis, the SEM methodology was used. The most important findings show only the conformation of a two-factor model, which includes the seven most representative items, and which are feasible to analyze in this study group. The goodness-of-fit index (GFI) value is acceptable since it exceeds the theoretical threshold greater than 0.9 and the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) is less than 0.05. The Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) and the norm adjustment index (NFI) are greater than 0.9. Based on the results, it can be concluded that students exhibit a strong desire for connectivity. Furthermore, they invest a significant amount of time in their online networks and experience uncertainty about how to occupy their when they are not connected.

How filial piety affects Chinese college students' social networking addiction——A chain-mediated effect analysis

Studies have shown that the negative fear of missing out can affect college students' problematic social network use. However, existing studies have not fully examined the cognitive and emotional mechanisms of filial piety's influence on online social addiction. To address this gap, this study explores the relationship between dual filial piety and social networking addiction and examines the mediating roles of maladaptive cognition and the fear of missing out. The dual filial piety scale, social networking addiction tendency scale, Wang's Chinese social networking addiction scale, fear of missing out scale, and Davis online cognitive scale were used to survey 1048 Chinese college students. The results indicate that maladaptive cognition and the fear of missing out created both independent and continuous mediating roles between dual filial piety and social networking addiction. The findings may provide a theoretical basis for explaining the causes of social networking addiction and for developing educational interventions.

Impact of Physical Activity and Bio-Psycho-Social Factors on Social Network Addiction and Gender Differences in Spanish Undergraduate Education Students.

Social network use has increased in recent years. Social networks are fast-changing and may cause negative effects such as dependence and addiction. Hence, it was decided to establish two research aims: (1) to identify the social network used by university students and their use levels according to their sex and (2) to analyse how age, body mass index, physical activity, emotional intelligence and social network type affect addiction to social networks according to young people's sex. A cross-sectional study was designed involving Spanish university students from Education Degrees. The mean age of the participants was 20.84 years (±2.90). Females made up 69.8% of the sample and males 30.2%. An online questionnaire was administered that included sociodemographic questions, IPAQ-SF and TMMS-24. This study found that all students use WhatsApp and more than 97% have YouTube and Instagram accounts. The linear regression model obtained was as follows: social network addiction = 3.355 + 0.336*emotional attention - 0.263*emotional clarity. There is a positive relationship between social network addiction and emotional attention (r = 0.25; p < 0.001) and negative relationships between social network addiction and emotional clarity (r = -0.16; p = 0.002) and between social network addiction and age (r = -0.17; p = 0.001). University students report lower levels of social network addiction and slightly higher levels of social network addiction among females. In addition, there are significant differences between the average social network addiction scores of university students in terms of their use of Telegram, TikTok and Twitch.