Communication attributes modify the anxiety risk associated with problematic social media use: Evidence from a prospective diary method study

IF 3.7 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Addictive behaviors Pub Date : 2025-03-07 DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108324

Chenziheng Allen Weng , Jahshara Bulgin , Savannah Diaz , Jiafang Zhang , Runzi Tan , Le Li , Mari Armstrong-Hough

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose

Social media use in younger people has shown mixed associations with mental health. We hypothesized that communication types during social media use might alter the relationship between problematic social media use (PSMU) and anxiety over time. We aimed to identify how four dimensions of communication influence the link between PSMU and anxiety.

Methods

We recruited a cohort of undergraduate students aged 18–26 to participate in daily surveys over two weeks using a diary method to assess daily social media use, PSMU, anxiety symptoms, and the four dimensions of communication: Consumption, Broadness, Online Exclusivity, and Parasociality. Lagged logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations evaluated the influence of daily PSMU and communication type on subsequent anxiety levels.

Results

Out of 79 participants, 1009 daily records were analyzed. PSMU positively correlated with anxiety (Kendall rank correlation τ = 0.30). Interaction analysis indicated that levels of parasociality and consumption moderated the association between PSMU components and anxiety outcomes. In young adults with high levels of consumption or parasociality, a 1-standard-deviation rise in PSMU’s social conflict component led to an 11 %-13 % increase in next-day anxiety scores. This association was absent for those with low to moderate levels of parasociality and consumption.

Discussion

Elevated levels of passive consumption and one-sided interactions amplify the anxiety risk associated with PSMU. Further longitudinal evidence can elucidate the connections between communication types, social media exposure, and anxiety, guiding the development of a model for healthy social media use.

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来源期刊

Addictive behaviors 医学-药物滥用

CiteScore

8.40

自引率

4.50%

发文量

283

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Addictive Behaviors is an international peer-reviewed journal publishing high quality human research on addictive behaviors and disorders since 1975. The journal accepts submissions of full-length papers and short communications on substance-related addictions such as the abuse of alcohol, drugs and nicotine, and behavioral addictions involving gambling and technology. We primarily publish behavioral and psychosocial research but our articles span the fields of psychology, sociology, psychiatry, epidemiology, social policy, medicine, pharmacology and neuroscience. While theoretical orientations are diverse, the emphasis of the journal is primarily empirical. That is, sound experimental design combined with valid, reliable assessment and evaluation procedures are a requisite for acceptance. However, innovative and empirically oriented case studies that might encourage new lines of inquiry are accepted as well. Studies that clearly contribute to current knowledge of etiology, prevention, social policy or treatment are given priority. Scholarly commentaries on topical issues, systematic reviews, and mini reviews are encouraged. We especially welcome multimedia papers that incorporate video or audio components to better display methodology or findings. Studies can also be submitted to Addictive Behaviors? companion title, the open access journal Addictive Behaviors Reports, which has a particular interest in ''non-traditional'', innovative and empirically-oriented research such as negative/null data papers, replication studies, case reports on novel treatments, and cross-cultural research.