Instagram use frequency is associated with problematic smartphone use, but not with depression and anxiety symptom severity

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 400-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitri Rozgonjuk ◽  
Patrik Pruunsild ◽  
Kadi Jürimäe ◽  
Rosiine-Johanna Schwarz ◽  
Jaan Aru

Studies have demonstrated that social media use, as well as problematic smartphone use (PSU), are associated with psychopathology variables, such as depression and anxiety. However, it has not been studied how Instagram use frequency is associated with depression, anxiety, and PSU. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Instagram use frequency is related to these psychopathology variables. Three hundred and five active Instagram users ( Mage = 23.61, SDage = 5.33; 82.2% female) comprised the effective sample in this study. They responded to an online survey that included questionnaires regarding their Instagram and smartphone use, as well as about experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms. We also retrieved objectively measured Instagram use data. The results showed that although Instagram use frequency, depression, and anxiety were associated with PSU in bivariate analysis, Instagram use frequency did not have indirect effects in the relations between psychopathology variables and PSU. Furthermore, while younger age and female sex predicted Instagram use frequency, these socio-demographic variables did not predict PSU. According to our findings Instagram use frequency contributes to PSU, but it is not related to depression and anxiety.

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 707-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon D. Elhai ◽  
Juanita K. Vasquez ◽  
Samuel D. Lustgarten ◽  
Jason C. Levine ◽  
Brian J. Hall

Research demonstrates that depression and anxiety symptom severity are related to problematic smartphone use (PSU). However, less is known about variables mediating these relationships. This study aimed to test whether proneness to boredom increased PSU. We also tested whether boredom proneness mediates relations between both depression and anxiety symptom severity with PSU. Using a cross-sectional design, we surveyed 298 American college students about their frequency of smartphone use, levels of PSU, depression, anxiety, and boredom proneness. Using structural equation modeling, we modeled depression and anxiety symptom severity predicting boredom proneness, in turn predicting levels of PSU and smartphone use frequency (SUF). Results demonstrate that boredom proneness predicted PSU, but not SUF. Boredom proneness mediated relations between both depression and anxiety symptom severity with PSU levels (but not usage frequency). We discuss the phenomenon in terms of depressed or anxious college students having difficulty attending to their schoolwork, subsequently experiencing boredom, and engaging in PSU to relieve their boredom.


2020 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon D. Elhai ◽  
Dmitri Rozgonjuk ◽  
Ahmad M. Alghraibeh ◽  
Jason C. Levine ◽  
Ali A. Alafnan ◽  
...  

Aside from depression and anxiety, less is known about the relationship of problematic smartphone use (PSU) to other psychopathology- related variables. The authors' aim was to test previously neglected variables in relation to PSU: rumination and excessive reassurance seeking behavior (ERSB). The authors recruited 295 college students for a web-based survey of smartphone use frequency, PSU, depression and anxiety, ruminative thinking, and ERSB. The authors tested linear regression and mediation models, assessing rumination and ERSB as mediating associations between depression/anxiety severity with PSU, adjusting for age, sex, and smartphone use frequency. Results demonstrate that ERSB was significantly related to PSU severity, and ERSB mediated the association between rumination and PSU. Furthermore, the combination of rumination and ERSB mediated relations between both depression and anxiety severity with PSU. Results provide evidence for ERSB as an important variable in understanding relationships between psychopathology symptoms and PSU severity among college students.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Horwood ◽  
Jeromy Anglim ◽  
Sumudu R. Mallawaarachchi

This study utilized data from a nationally representative sample of Australian adults (n =1164; 50.7% female; age M = 44.9 years, SD = 16.3) to examine the relationships between age, technology concerns, self-rated and objective amount of smartphone use, and problematic smartphone use. Participants completed measures of problematic smartphone use and technology concern, while amount of smartphone use was self-rated and objectively measured using smartphone screen time reporting tools (Screen Time for iOS and Digital Wellbeing for Android). Amount of self-rated and objective smartphone use declined linearly with age. In contrast, problematic smartphone use was relatively high and stable in young adults before rapidly declining around age 40. People were reasonably good at estimating their amount of smartphone use (r = .73), although they did tend to underestimate usage. Technology concern was high across all ages, but unrelated to amount of usage and problematic smartphone usage. Age related differences are interpreted in terms of a combination of developmental and generational changes. Results also suggest that amount of use is an important but not complete cause of problematic smartphone use.


Author(s):  
Rocco Servidio ◽  
Mark D. Griffiths ◽  
Zsolt Demetrovics

The present study examined whether the relationship between the Dark Triad (DT) of personality and problematic smartphone use (PSU) can be explained by the mediating role of fear of missing out (FoMO). The role of FoMO in this relationship has yet to be examined. A total of 457 participants completed an online survey. Results indicated that males scored high on measures assessing DT of personality, while females scored high on PSU. Structural equation modelling showed that narcissism was directly associated with PSU. FoMO partially mediated the association between narcissism and PSU. Machiavellianism and narcissism were directly associated with FoMO. In the fully mediated model, narcissism (but not Machiavellianism) was still associated with FoMO, and in turn, FoMO was related to PSU. Although preliminary, the results of the present study indicated that Machiavellianism and narcissism might represent antecedents of FoMO, in addition to the Big Five personality traits, and both could be involved in the development of PSU.


2021 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
pp. 105875
Author(s):  
Liangyi Jin ◽  
Zejun Hao ◽  
Jinzi Huang ◽  
Hafiza Rabia Akram ◽  
Muhammad Farhan Saeed ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Carmen M. Tyler ◽  
Grace B. McKee ◽  
Elisabet Alzueta ◽  
Paul B. Perrin ◽  
Kristine Kingsley ◽  
...  

Despite older adults’ extremely high vulnerability to COVID-19 complications and death, few studies have examined how personal characteristics and the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the mental health of older adults at the global level. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among demographics, COVID-19 life impacts, and depression and anxiety in adults aged 60 and older from 33 countries. A sample of 823 older adults aged 60–94 and residing in 33 countries completed a 10-minute online survey following recruitment from mailing lists and social media. Being separated from and having conflicts with loved ones predicted both anxiety and depression, as did residing in a country with higher income. Getting medical treatment for severe symptoms of COVID-19 and having decreased work responsibilities predicted depression, but adjustment to working from home and younger age predicted both depression and anxiety. Participants from Europe and Central Asia reported higher depression than those from all other regions and higher anxiety than those from Latin America and the Caribbean. The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious deleterious effects on the mental health of older adults worldwide. The current findings have direct implications for mental health services that may be delivered to older adults to help facilitate healthy psychological adjustment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-111
Author(s):  
Hariz Enggar Wijaya ◽  
Syafira Anantasya Agsanda Putri ◽  
Zulfa Firdausi ◽  
Nida Nur Nabila

Smartphone use is increasing worldwide. Despite the benefit of using a smartphone, a growing body of research has reported smartphone use's negative effect. Lack of self-control has been associated with problematic use of smartphones as well as stress. However, there is still little evidence of how religiosity could have an impact on problematic smartphone use. This study aimed to examine the indirect effect of religiosity on problematic smartphone use via self-control and stress. A few 146 undergraduate students enrolled in this study. They completed an online survey comprising problematic smartphone use, religiosity, self-control, and stress. Our findings showed a negative association between religiosity or self-control with problematic smartphone use. Stress also correlated positively with problematic smartphone use. Path analysis demonstrated the mediation effect of self-control on religiosity and problematic smartphone use, but not the stress. These results underlined the psychological mechanism underlying smartphone use of students. Moreover, religiosity could be considered to prevent the detrimental effect of problematic smartphone use.  


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