ADHD symptoms and problematic digital media use in emerging adults: Investigating the role of cognitive deficits as mediators.

Social norms and e-motions in problematic social media use among adolescents

This study assessed the mediating roles of problematic gaming, problematic social media use, and problematic smartphone use in the associations between psychological distress and screen time use among primary school children during the school hiatus due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Students (n = 2,026; mean [standard deviation] age = 10.71 years [1.07]; 1,011 [49.9 percent] girls) in Sichuan, China completed a cross-sectional online survey, and this study was approved by the ethics committee of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (IRB ref: HSEARS20190718001). The Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, and Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale were used to assess problematic gaming, social media use, and smartphone use. The Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 was used to assess distress, and an item rated on a 0-10 scale was included to assess fear of being infected by COVID-19. Fear of being infected by COVID-19 was assessed because this could be a confounding variable in the association between psychological distress and screen time use. Increased time spent on gaming, social media, and smartphones was associated with greater problematic gaming, problematic social media use, problematic smartphone use, and psychological distress, but was not associated with fear of COVID-19 infection. Mediation analyses showed that problematic gaming, problematic social media use, and problematic smartphone use were significant mediators in the association between psychological distress and increased time spent on Internet-related activities during the COVID-19 outbreak period. Children who had psychological distress during COVID-19 outbreak might have spent longer time on Internet-related activities due to the school hiatus and problematic use of Internet-related activities. Parents/caregivers are recommended to monitor their children's use of Internet while encouraging children to engage in positive activities to ease the concern of negative psychological responses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IntroductionSocial media use and vaping nicotine are highly prevalent in the daily lives of young adults, especially among Mexican-American college students. The excessive and compulsive use of social media platforms, coupled with the urge to stay continuously connected, can lead to problematic social media use. To date, no studies have explored the impact of problematic social media use on the daily patterns of vaping among this vulnerable population.MethodsIn Spring 2023, we employed Ecological Momentary Assessment over a period of 14 days to collect real-time daily data on participants’ social media use and vaping behaviors via a mobile phone–based application. Participants were 51 Mexican-American college students aged 18–25 years, 72.5% female, who were current vapers. We used generalized linear regression models to examine differences in vaping behaviors among participants with and without problematic social media use. All regression models adjusted for age, sex, and SES.ResultsParticipants with problematic social media use vaped on an average of 5.9 days compared to 5.7 days reported by those without problematic social media use (p < .05). Problematic social media use is associated with more frequent daily vaping [b = 0.03; 95% CI: 0.02–0.05], increased number of days vaping [b = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.07–0.20], and vaping higher nicotine concentrations [b = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.03–0.14].ConclusionResults suggest that problematic social media use significantly increases the risk of daily vaping among Mexican-American college students. Findings highlight the need to strengthen digital resilience and social media literacy to help college students navigate and mitigate the risks of social media.

Although we know that problematic social media use is related to psychological distress, the role of doomscrolling and psychological adjustment in this relationship are scarcely addressed. The objective of the current study was to explore the relationships between problematic social media use and psychological distress with a serial mediation analysis that included doomscrolling and psychological adjustment. The participants consisted of 398 adolescents whose ages ranged between 14 and 18 years (M age= 16.76, SD = 1.01). The data were collected using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Doomscrolling Scale, Brief Psychological Adjustment Scale-6, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21. Analyses revealed both doomscrolling and psychological adjustment mediated the relationship between problematic social media use and psychological distress. In addition, doomscrolling and psychological adjustment had the serial mediating role between problematic social media use and psychological distress. These findings contribute to elucidating the mechanisms between problematic social media use and psychological distress. In conclusion, problematic social media use leads to psychological distress through doomscrolling and poor psychological adjustment.

Background The prevalence of problematic social media use among college students has reached levels that constitute a public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between insecure attachment (attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) and problematic social media use, while exploring the potential mediating roles of social support and social anxiety. Methods The study utilized the Intimacy Experience Scale, the Interaction Anxiety Scale, the Social Support Scale, and the Problematic Social Media Use Scale to investigate 454 college ( M age = 20.33, SD = 2.15, 74.2% female). Results The results showed that both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were positively correlated with problematic social media use. The results of the chain mediation model indicated that both social support and social anxiety independently mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and problematic social media use. Furthermore, social support and social anxiety acted as chain mediators between attachment anxiety and problematic social media use. A similar chain mediation pathway was identified for attachment avoidance, whereby social support and social anxiety also served as sequential mediators. Conclusion These findings offer new insights for the intervention and treatment of problematic social media use. The implications of the results are discussed.

BackgroundAlcohol expectancies are beliefs regarding positive (e.g., tension reduction) or negative (e.g., loss of motor coordination) effects of alcohol. Based on Social Learning Theory, social media can influence alcohol expectancies in adolescents. In particular, problematic social media use – which can reflect elements of addiction, including mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse – could be linked to alcohol expectancies. We aimed to determine the associations between problematic social media use and alcohol expectancies in a national (U.S.) cohort of 10-14-year-old early adolescents.MethodsWe analyzed cross-sectional data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (N = 9,008) at the Year 2 assessment (2018–2020). Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between problematic social media use and alcohol expectancies (positive and negative), adjusting for race/ethnicity, sex, household income, parent education, sexual orientation, parental marital status, and study site. Furthermore, we computed marginal predicted probabilities to aid in interpreting findings.ResultsThe sample was 48.7% female and racially and ethnically diverse (43.0% non-White), with a mean age of 12.02 ± 0.66 years old. In models adjusted for confounders including both time spent on social media and problematic social media use, time spent on social media was not associated with positive or negative alcohol expectancies, but higher problematic social media use score was associated with higher positive (B = 0.045, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.020–0.069) and negative (B = 0.072, 95% CI 0.043–0.101) alcohol expectancies scores.ConclusionProblematic social media use was associated with both positive and negative alcohol expectancies in a demographically diverse national sample of early adolescents in the U.S. Given the small effect sizes of the current study, future studies should further examine these relationships prospectively, as well as the mechanisms linking problematic social media use to alcohol expectancies and alcohol consumption. Because alcohol expectancies are modifiable and linked with alcohol initiation, they could be a target for future prevention efforts.

In the literature exploring the associations between problematic social media use (SMU) and sleep, the majority of studies focus on problematic SMU as a predictor of poorer sleep outcomes. There is currently a scarcity ofempirical investigationof the reverse causal direction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of sleep (insomnia and sleep quality) on problematic social media use and the mediating role of motives for SMU. The eMediate study participants (young adult social media users from Bangladesh) who completed four surveys of SMU, sleep, and mental health at three-month intervals were included (n = 426, 49.8% female, mean age = 22.61 ± 1.83 years). Multilevel mediation analyses were conducted to examine the impact of sleep problems on problematic social media use through motives for SMU. Sleep problems significantly predicted SMU for coping, conforming, escapism, social support seeking, and decreasing negative emotions motives, as well as problematic social media use. Motives mediated 41% of the effect of insomnia symptoms and 71% of the effect of poor sleep quality on problematic social media use. SMU for coping and escapism motives mediated the associations between sleep problems and subsequent problematic social media use. SMU for coping with sleep problems and escaping from associated worries arising from sleep problems and real-life difficulties may reinforce use by providing short-term relief and leading to reliance on SMU.

Over the past two decades, young people’s engagement in online activities has grown markedly. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between two specific online behaviors (i.e., cyberbullying perpetration, problematic social media use) and their relationships with social connectedness, belongingness, depression, and self-esteem among high school and university students. Data were collected from two different study groups via two questionnaires that included the Cyberbullying Offending Scale, Social Media Use Questionnaire, Social Connectedness Scale, General Belongingness Scale, Short Depression-Happiness Scale, and Single Item Self-Esteem Scale. Study 1 comprised 804 high school students (48% female; mean age 16.20 years). Study 2 comprised 760 university students (60% female; mean age 21.48 years). Results indicated that problematic social media use and cyberbullying perpetration (which was stronger among high school students) were directly associated with each other. Belongingness (directly) and social connectedness (indirectly) were both associated with cyberbullying perpetration and problematic social media use. Path analysis demonstrated that while age was a significant direct predictor of problematic social media use and cyberbullying perpetration among university students, it was not significant among high school students. In both samples, depression was a direct predictor of problematic social media use and an indirect predictor of cyberbullying perpetration. However, majority of these associations were relatively weak. The present study significantly adds to the emerging body of literature concerning the associations between problematic social media use and cyberbullying perpetration.

Problematic social media use (PSMU) parallels traditional characteristics of substance use disorders, including salience, functional impairment, and tolerance. An excessive focus on social reward and engaging in negative behaviors on social media may decrease certain executive functions. However, the role of how inhibitory control processes manifest in PSMU are not well understood. The current study aims to explore both the presence of inhibitory control impairments and harmful online behaviors, such as negative social comparison, in problematic social media use. A population of emerging adults (undergraduate university students; N=503) completed several online questionnaires assessing problematic social media use, trait impulsivity, and negative social comparison on social media. An online Go-Nogo and Iowa Gambling Task were administered to further evaluate inhibitory control. Higher problematic social media use was significantly positively correlated with trait impulsivity, but not Go-Nogo or Iowa Gambling task performance. Negative social comparison on social media was a stronger predictor of PSMU, compared to inhibitory control measures. However, social comparison did not significantly interact with inhibitory control measures when predicting PSMU. When exploring subtypes of impulsivity, the strongest correlation with PSMU was observed with cognitive instability and attentional impulsivity. Our results suggest that aspects of impaired inhibitory control-namely, cognitive instability and attentional impulsivity-are present in problematic social media use. Understanding the interplay between features of addiction and the unique context of online socialization, such as negative social comparison, is central to defining problematic social media use as a potential behavioral addiction.

SummaryBackgroundObesity has been associated with problematic internet use or internet use characterized by impulsivity, dependence, risk taking or impairment. Despite the unique affordances and growing popularity of social media, few studies have investigated obesity in relation to the problematic use of social media in contrast to general internet use.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between obesity and problematic social media use and to test symptoms of anxiety and depression as potential mediators of this relationship.MethodsA cross‐sectional online survey was administered to young adults between the ages of 18–25 using the Qualtrics platform. Two mediation models were tested using model 4 of the PROCESS Macro in SPSS.ResultsParticipants (n = 4939) were between the ages of 18–25 (M = 21.74, SD = 2.3). Participants were 50.6% female (n = 2496) and 58.1% White (n = 2871). Reporting obesity was positively associated with reporting increased levels of problematic social media use, B = 1.15, SE B = .32, t(1, 4938) = 3.59, p < .001. The indirect effects in each model from obesity to problematic social media use, through both symptoms of anxiety and depression separately, were significant, B = .14, SE B = .05, confidence interval [0.055, .231] and B = .16, SE B = .07, confidence interval [0.018, .317], respectively.ConclusionsYoung adults who present both with obesity and with symptoms of depression or anxiety are more at risk for problematic social media use. These patients may benefit from education on health‐promoting social media use.

Very little research has been conducted with disabled emerging adults regarding whether they experience problematic social media use and negative consequences of such use. An online survey of U.S. disabled emerging adults (n = 201) aged 18–26 years measured their social media use frequency and problematic social media use, with the aim of describing the patterns of use exhibited by emerging adults with disabilities and exploring the associations between those patterns of use and mental health outcomes. Demographics were precursors to social media variables, which were associated with depression, anxiety, and isolation. In this sample 14.43% of disabled emerging adults exhibited problematic social media use. Short form social media use (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X, and Snapchat) was the only precursor variable associated with problematic use. Problematic use was associated with greater depression, anxiety, and isolation. Considerations for studying problematic use among disabled emerging adults are discussed.

BackgroundCurrent literature lacks evidence concerning how problematic social media use associates with mental health. To address the gap, the present study used mediation models to examine whether generalized trust and perceived social support (PSS) are potential mediators in the relationship between problematic social media use and mental health.MethodsThe sample comprised Iranian adults (n = 1073; 614 females). The participants completed a number of scales to assess problematic social media use (Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale), generalized trust (Generalized Trust Scale), PSS (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, happiness (Oxford Happiness Questionnaire Short Form), depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and mental quality of life (Short Form‐12).ResultsProblematic social media use had negative effects on happiness and mental quality of life via the mediators of generalized trust (bootstrapping SE = 0.017; effect = −0.041; 95% CI = −0.079, −0.012) and PSS (bootstrapping SE = 0.023; effect = −0.163; 95% CI = −0.211, −0.119). Problematic social media use had positive effects on anxiety and depression via the mediators of generalized trust (bootstrapping SE = 0.022; effect = 0.064; 95% CI = 0.026, 0.113) and PSS (bootstrapping SE = 0.024; effect = 0.052; 95% CI = 0.009, 0.102).ConclusionsProblematic social media use, generalized trust and PSS are important factors for an individual's mental health. Health‐care providers may want to assist individuals regardless of having mental health problems in reducing their problematic social media use and improving their generalized trust and social support.

To examine the association between problematic social media use with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stress in a sample of young Lebanese adults. This cross-sectional study was achieved between January and May 2019; 466 out of 600 adults completed the questionnaire. Higher problematic social media use was significantly associated with higher depression, anxiety, and insomnia, but not stress. Stress mediated the relation between depression, anxiety, insomnia, and problematic social media use. This study showed that problematic social media use was associated with psychological disorders. Additional research is needed to identify and describe the potential causality between the use of social media and various mental health issues and the interplay between the social media network and other mental health factors.

Problematic social media use has been linked to reduced well-being and impulse control difficulties. While digital self-control apps show potential for reducing general app usage, they often lack customization, leading to limited effectiveness and increased user resistance. Their impact on problematic social media use remains uncertain. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Wellspent app, a customizable mobile intervention app designed to promote self-regulated social media use by targeting user-defined problematic app use and offering tailored behavioral nudges. In a 3-week randomized controlled trial, 70 iPhone users (mean age 26.2, SD 5.6 years; 47/70, 67% female), regularly using at least 1 social media app, were randomly assigned to an intervention (n=35) or control group (n=35). The intervention group received personalized full-screen reminders with the option to quit or continue social media app use whenever an app session exceeded a self-defined time limit. Participants completed weekly online surveys measuring problematic social media use, problematic smartphone use, self-efficacy, and daily screen time on their most problematic app. Linear mixed models tested intervention effects. While no significant reduction in problematic social media use or increase in self-efficacy was observed, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in daily screen time on their most problematic app by approximately 29 minutes (estimate=-29.35, SE 6.84, 95% CI -42.79 to -15.99; P<.001), and a significant decrease in perceived problematic smartphone use (estimate=-0.46, SE 0.18, 95% CI -0.80 to -0.11; P=.01). The Wellspent app demonstrated short-term efficacy in reducing problematic smartphone use. By allowing users to tailor interventions to their personal goals, the app shows promise as a self-directed tool to support healthier digital habits. Further research should explore long-term effects and feature-specific impacts.

The usage of social networking sites (SNSs) represents one of the most significant behavioral shifts in recent years. WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube, among others, have become an inseparable part of our daily life, especially in the present hyperconnected era. However, the use of SNSs can shift from a normal daily habit to an excessive and hard-to-control behavior, negatively affecting physical and mental health and causing Problematic Social Media Use (PSMU). PSMU is a serious problem that continues to grow with the ongoing development of new SNSs and the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) features, influencing the SNSs’ metrics and algorithms, personalizing content, strengthening platform engagement, and attracting an even greater number of users. In this context, exploring the effects of PSMU requires more attention, especially among a population at high risk: university students. One relevant question that arises when considering both social media use (SMU) and university life is academic performance (AP) and how PSMU affects it. The present review aims to address this question and explore the relationship between PSMU and AP, with a focus on university students in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where social media adoption is widespread and the prevalences are continuously increasing. The present review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We first developed our research equation via the Boolean research strategy. We subsequently conducted a deep search and careful filtration to select consistent studies that met our inclusion and exclusion criteria across four databases, namely, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. We included only quantitative observational cross-sectional studies that (i) explored the association between PSMU and AP, (ii) included university students from the MENA region only, and (iii) evaluated PSMU relying on scales, not merely by time spent and frequency of use. Our screening process resulted in the selection of eleven studies. By analyzing and comparing their findings, most included studies reported a negative association between PSMU and AP among university students in the MENA region. An exploratory meta-analysis, conducted to examine variability in effect sizes, yielded a negative, non-statistically significant pooled association (r = -0.114, 95% CI: -0.283 to 0.054), with substantial heterogeneity observed across studies (I2 = 76.86%). These findings highlight marked variability in the reported associations and underscore the need for more standardized methodologies to support more robust future synthesis. While our review identified a negative association between PSMU and AP among university students in the MENA region based on the narrative synthesis, findings from the exploratory meta-analysis highlighted substantial variability in effect sizes, limiting the ability to derive a consistent quantitative estimate. Furthermore, causal inferences remain limited due to the cross-sectional nature of the included studies. Given the limited number of available studies, inconsistency in PSMU measurement, variability in the operationalization of AP, and lack of data on mediating mechanisms, further region-specific research is essential. Beyond cross-sectional designs, longitudinal and interventional studies with clearer reporting practices are warranted to advance understanding of this relationship.