Problematic Social Media Use Profiles and Adolescent Substance Use Across Countries: A Latent Class Analysis With Multilevel Models

IF 3.2 2区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL

Journal of Adolescence Pub Date : 2026-08-05 Epub Date: 2026-06-08 DOI:10.1002/jad.70201

Wei Zhong, Naiqi Tian

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

While substantial evidence suggests a significant association between problematic social media use (PSMU) and adolescent substance use, the complex nature of PSMU and its cross-national variations remain unclear.

Objectives

This study aimed to identify distinct patterns of PSMU, compare their prevalence across countries, and examine the associations between these patterns and adolescent substance use.

Methods

This study analyzed a representative adolescent sample (N = 157,717) from 39 countries, utilizing data from the 2017–2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey. Latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted to identify different patterns of PSMU. Multilevel logistic regression models were then used to investigate the associations between these identified PSMU patterns and adolescent substance use, specifically focusing on smoking, drunkenness, and cannabis use.

Results

Five distinct patterns of PSMU were identified: Non-problematic users (52.60%), Preoccupation-driven users (8.42%), conflictual-compulsive users (11.37%), regulation-failure users (25.16%), and highly-problematic users (2.45%). The distribution of PSMU patterns varied across countries and regions, suggesting cross-national heterogeneity rather than a clear geographical or economic gradient. Consistent patterns of association were found between adolescent PSMU and substance use. Highly-Problematic Users showed the strongest associations with smoking, drunkenness, and cannabis use, followed by conflictual-compulsive users and preoccupation-driven users, while regulation-failure users exhibited the weakest association.

Conclusions

These findings underscore the importance of developing tailored interventions for adolescent PSMU that are based on distinct patterns. Furthermore, special attention should be given to the diverse associations of these PSMU patterns with adolescent substance use.

查看原文本刊更多论文

有问题的社交媒体使用概况和各国青少年物质使用：多层次模型的潜在类分析。

背景：虽然大量证据表明有问题的社交媒体使用（PSMU）与青少年物质使用之间存在显著关联，但PSMU的复杂性及其跨国差异仍不清楚。目的：本研究旨在确定PSMU的不同模式，比较其在各国的流行情况，并检查这些模式与青少年药物使用之间的关系。方法：本研究分析了来自39个国家的代表性青少年样本（N = 157,717），利用了2017-2018年学龄儿童健康行为（HBSC）调查的数据。采用潜类分析（LCA）鉴定不同类型的PSMU。然后使用多水平逻辑回归模型来调查这些确定的PSMU模式与青少年物质使用之间的关系，特别是关注吸烟、酗酒和大麻使用。结果：发现了5种不同的PSMU类型：无问题用户（52.60%）、专注驱动用户（8.42%）、冲突强迫用户（11.37%）、规则失败用户（25.16%）和高问题用户（2.45%）。PSMU模式在不同国家和地区的分布各不相同，表明跨国异质性，而不是明确的地理或经济梯度。青少年PSMU与药物使用之间存在一致的关联模式。高问题用户与吸烟、酗酒和大麻使用的关联最强，其次是冲突强迫性用户和专注驱动型用户，而监管失败用户的关联最弱。结论：这些发现强调了为青少年PSMU开发基于不同模式的量身定制干预措施的重要性。此外，应特别注意这些PSMU模式与青少年药物使用之间的各种关联。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Adolescence PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL-

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

2.60%

发文量

123

期刊介绍： The Journal of Adolescence is an international, broad based, cross-disciplinary journal that addresses issues of professional and academic importance concerning development between puberty and the attainment of adult status within society. It provides a forum for all who are concerned with the nature of adolescence, whether involved in teaching, research, guidance, counseling, treatment, or other services. The aim of the journal is to encourage research and foster good practice through publishing both empirical and clinical studies as well as integrative reviews and theoretical advances.