Cognitive biases and excessive use of social media: The facebook implicit associations test (FIAT)

Social media addiction and personality dimensions among Tunisian medical students

Purpose

Social media (SM) has become a common activity for today's young people. It is sometimes overused and potentially results in SM addiction. This study aims to assess SM addiction and its associated factors in medical students and to examine its relationship with dimensions of personality global self-esteem, and social self-esteem.

Materials and methods

We carried out a cross-sectional study among a sample of medical students in the region of Sfax in Tunisia. Social Media Addiction Scale-Student Form (SMAS-SF), Big Five Inventory, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Social Self-Esteem Inventory were used to collect data.

Results

Overall, 116 medical students were included in the survey. The median age of the participants was 26 years, and 91 students (78.4%) were female. Almost half of them (55.20%) were enrolled in the third cycle. The most widely used SM was Facebook (98.3%). Students with the highest SMAS-SF scores had a significantly younger age of first use (p=0.011, r=-0.235), spent more time on their favorite SM (p=0.005, r=0.260), and performed more activities on SM, namely: making comments (p=0.005), browsing SM profiles (p=0.018), and posting videos (p=0.007) or pictures (p=0.002). The need to establish an identity was significantly associated with higher SMAS-SF scores (p=0.011). We also found that neuroticism and a low level of conscientiousness were linked to high SMAS-SF scores (p=0.006, r=0.252 and p=0.050, r=-0.183, respectively). Moreover, high SMAS-SF scores were significantly related to lower global and social self-esteem scores (p=0.015, r=-0.226 and p=0.032, r=-0.199, respectively).

Conclusion

Our results highlight the critical need to take into consideration the evaluation and intervention of self-esteem and personality dimensional issues to target interventions for SM addiction among medical students.

The impact of negative urgency on implicit mobile phone addiction tendency among college freshmen in the context of social exclusion

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of negative urgency on implicit mobile phone addiction tendency among college freshmen, and to observe whether social exclusion situations affect the relationship between negative urgency and implicit mobile phone addiction tendency.

Methods

The UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale was used to screen 575 freshmen from a certain university. The experiment utilized a GO/NO-GO paradigm. Experiment 1 employed a 2 (negative urgency group: high negative urgency group, low negative urgency group) × 2 (word type: phone related words, phone non-related words) two-factor mixed experimental design. Experiment 2 employed a 2 (negative urgency group: high negative urgency group, low negative urgency group) × 2 (social exclusion type: priming group, non-priming group) × 2 (word type: phone related words, phone non-related words) three-factor mixed experimental design.

Results

Experiment 1 results showed a significant main effect of negative urgency group and a significant interaction effect between negative urgency group and word type. Experiment 2 results demonstrated a significant main effect of negative urgency group and a significant main effect of social exclusion type. There was a significant interaction effect between word type and social exclusion type, as well as between word type and negative urgency group. The three-way interaction effect among negative urgency group, word type, and social exclusion type was significant.

Conclusion

College freshmen with high negative urgency exhibit a higher tendency toward implicit mobile phone addiction. In social exclusion situations, college freshmen show a higher tendency toward implicit smartphone addiction. Social exclusion situations and negative urgency jointly influence the implicit mobile phone addiction tendency of college freshmen.

Cultural persistence and change in university students' social networking motives and problematic use

This cross-cultural study assessed the problematic use and motivations of social networking sites (SNS) among university students in China, Malawi, and the UK. A sample of 975 students completed the 10-item WeChat Excessive Use Scale and 20-item measure of SNS motivations across friendship, convenience, social support, information, and entertainment dimensions. Results showed that SNS problematic use was significantly lower in the individualistic UK compared to collectivistic China and Malawi. Critical cultural differences also emerged in usage motivations. Chinese and Malawian youth scored higher on social motivations like friendship and support compared to the UK. However, the entertainment motive was associated with the problematic use of SNS across all groups, reflecting the globalised digital culture. While Malawi's collectivism ordinarily emphasises social cohesion, this sample showed weaker associations between problematic SNS use and social support motivations. Material constraints limiting access may reduce online social reliance compared to China. Findings reveal both persisting and evolving cultural dynamics as new technologies spread globally. Uses and gratification theory helps explain these nuances. Ultimately, universal and culturally specific facets of social networking motivations must be considered in addressing the global problematic use of social media.

Restricting social networking site use for one week produces varied effects on mood but does not increase explicit or implicit desires to use SNSs: Findings from an ecological momentary assessment study

Recent research on the addictive potential of modern technologies such as the internet, smartphones, or social networking sites (SNSs) has suggested that emotional and motivational changes associated with the sudden discontinuation of engagement with the technology mirror the aversive consequences seen when drug use is ceased abruptly. This has been observed even in moderate users and interpreted as a manifestation of withdrawal, an important marker of physical dependence in substance use disorders. On the other hand, a growing literature emphasises the positive effects of "digital detox" on mental health and well-being. Using a battery of affective and motivational measures, both explicit and implicit, the present study tracked the effects of a week of significantly reduced SNS use in moderate to heavy SNS users (N = 51). Our pre-registered analyses showed that the intervention elicited affective changes neither consistent with a general withdrawal syndrome (i.e., increased negative affect and cravings) nor with a general beneficial effect on well-being: While our data indicated some abstinence-related decreases of negative affect and boredom, they also showed a reduction of positive affect. These changes occurred regardless of problematic/addictive use behaviours. Importantly, restricting SNS use for one week had no effect on implicit measures of SNS use motivation (i.e., approach biases, time distortion and effort expenditure for SNS access) nor did it influence explicit cravings and SNS cue-reactivity. Together our findings suggest that restricting SNS use has nuanced and potentially offsetting effects on well-being. These could arise because use reduction may concurrently remove experiences that trigger negative emotions (e.g., upward social comparisons or Fear of Missing Out) but also those that elicit positive emotions (e.g., social approval). The hypothesised lack of a net effect on well-being would be consistent with our finding that voluntary reduction of SNS use does not mitigate or exacerbate SNS-related urges.

Social media use, mental health, and suicide-related outcomes in Russian women: A cross-sectional comparison between two age groups

BACKGROUND

Women who belong to the age group "emerging adulthood" (18 to 29 years) are vulnerable to mental health issues and suicide-related outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated potential predictors of suicide-related outcomes in females emerging adulthood and compared them to older women.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Data of 2537 women from Russia (group "18 to 29 years": n = 1123; group "> 29 years": n = 1414) on lifetime suicide-related outcomes, (problematic) social media use, daily stress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and positive mental health were assessed via online cross-sectional surveys.

RESULTS

The younger group spent significantly more time on social media use than the older group. It had significantly higher levels of daily stress, problematic social media use, depression and anxiety symptoms, and suicide-related outcomes. The older group showed significantly higher levels of positive mental health. Only in the younger group, problematic social media use significantly mediated the relationship between daily stress and suicide-related outcomes in a moderated mediation analysis. Positive mental health significantly moderated the association between problematic social media use and suicide-related outcomes. Specifically, the higher the positive mental health level, the less close the link between both variables.

CONCLUSION

The current results reveal that young women in Russia could be at enhanced risk for daily stress, problematic social media use, and low levels of mental health. The interaction between these variables could foster suicide-related outcomes. Public governmental communication in Russia should call attention to potential negative impact of intensive social media use.

Implicit Cognitions, Use Expectancies and Gratification in Social-Networks-Use Disorder and Tobacco Use Disorder

Abstract: Aims: The problematic use of social networks is discussed as a further specific type of Internet-use disorders. Our project aims to clarify whether social-networks-use disorder (SNUD) is marked by characteristics of addictive behaviors by tracking behavior and investigating the relevance of 1) implicit cognitions, 2) the experiences of gratification and compensation and 3) use expectancies in SNUD compared to tobacco-use disorder. Methodology: Four groups will be examined: individuals with 1) SNUD without tobacco use, 2) risky use patterns with regard to social networks without tobacco use, 3) tobacco use disorder and 4) healthy controls. All participants first complete a laboratory examination including the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and the Approach-Avoidance task (AAT). We will use smartphone-based data tracking for 14 days following laboratory testing to record smoking and social-networks-use patterns. During this period, we further measure use expectancies and the experience of gratification and compensation by means of a smartphone-based experience sampling method (ESM). Conclusions: This is the first study to examine relevant characteristics of addictive behaviors in individuals with SNUD compared to individuals with tobacco use, using a combination of experimental psychological methods and smartphone-based measurements. We expect that this investigative approach will contribute to a deeper understanding of the processes involved in SNUD.

Do evaluation and self-identification relate to self-reported and actual social media use?

Background and aims

Social media use can sometimes become excessive and damaging. To deal with this issue, scholars and practitioners have called for the development of measures that predict social media use. The current studies test the utility of evaluation and self-identification measures for predicting social media use.

Method

Study 1 examined the relation between evaluation (n = 58) and self-identification (n = 56) measures on the one hand and several self-report measures of social media use on the other hand. Study 2 examined whether the main results of Study 1 could be replicated and whether evaluation (n = 68) and self-identification (n = 48) also relate to actual social media use. We probed evaluation and self-identification using implicit and explicit measures.

Results

Explicit evaluation and self-identification measures significantly correlated with several of the self-report measures of social media. Explicit evaluation also significantly correlated with several indices of actual social media use. Implicit measures did not relate to social media use.

Discussion and conclusions

The current results suggest that researchers and practitioners could benefit from using explicit evaluation and self-identification measures when predicting social media use, especially an evaluation measure since this measure also seems to relate to actual social media use. Study 2 was one of the first to test the ecological validity of social media use measures. Although implicit measures could provide benefits for predicting social media use, the current studies did not show evidence for their predictive utility.

Task and information conflicts in the numerical Stroop task

Studies of the Stroop color‐word task have provided evidence for the existence of two conflicts: (1) an early task conflict between noting the relevant color and reading afforded by the irrelevant word (or word‐like stimuli), and (2) a late information conflict between the information provided by the word and the information provided by the color. Measurements of pupil changes, in addition to reaction time (RT), have extended understanding regarding these two conflicts. The current work examines the generalizability of such understanding. We ask whether similar processes work in the comparative judgment of numbers (e.g., in the numerical Stroop task). We present two experiments that support and extend the knowledge gained in the word‐color context to numerical processing. Similar to results with the Stroop color‐word task, we found a dissociation between RT and pupillometry and an early task conflict followed by an information conflict.

Recent Stroop color‐word studies have indicated the existence of an early task conflict followed by an information conflict. The current experiments used pupillometry to show the existence of these two conflicts in a numerical Stroop‐like task. Accordingly, our research extends and generalizes the two‐conflict notion beyond color‐word processing.

Affective and cognitive processes involved in behavioral addictions

This special issue addresses the affective and cognitive processes and their interactions potentially reflecting mechanisms underlying the development, maintenance of, or recovery from behavioral addictions. Various specific types of behavioral addictions will be considered, including those already in ICD-11 (gambling disorder, gaming disorder), but also new phenomena that are not yet classified (e.g., buying-shopping disorder, social-network-disorder) and phenomena potentially belonging to behavioral addictions although they are currently classified elsewhere (e.g., compulsive sexual behavior disorder). The articles included in this special issue directly investigate affective processes (e.g., cue-reactivity, craving, mood, stress, social interactions) and/or cognitive processes (e.g., executive functions, attention, memory). The studies involve experimental paradigms, neuropsychological tasks, psychophysiological measures, and neuroimaging techniques. Specific articles also deal with the relationship between affective and cognitive processes. The special issue is complemented by articles covering current debates and reviewing current empirical findings in the field.

Exploring the Dimensions of Smartphone Distraction: Development, Validation, Measurement Invariance, and Latent Mean Differences of the Smartphone Distraction Scale (SDS)

Background: Distraction is a functional emotion regulation strategy utilized to relieve emotional distress. Within the attention economy perspective, distraction is increasingly associated with digital technology use, performance impairments and interference with higher-order cognitive processes. Research on smartphone distraction and its association with problematic smartphone use is still scarce and there is no available psychometric assessment tool to assess this cognitive and emotive process parsimoniously. Method: The present study reports the development and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Smartphone Distraction Scale (SDS) through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, construct validity, gender invariance, and latent mean differences. The study was conducted in a sample of British university students (N = 1,001; M = 21.10 years, SD = 2.77). Results: The 16-item SDS was best conceptualized in a four-factor model solution comprising attention impulsiveness, online vigilance, emotion regulation, and multitasking. Construct validity was established using relevant psychosocial and mental health measures, with SDS scores being moderately associated with deficient self-regulation and problematic social media use. Gender measurement invariance was achieved at the configural, metric, and scalar levels, and latent mean differences indicated that females had significantly higher means than males across all four SDS latent factors. Discussion: The SDS presents with several strengths, including its theoretical grounding, relatively short length, and sound psychometric properties. The SDS enables the assessment of distraction, which appears to be one of the pathways to problematic smartphone use facilitating overuse and overreliance on smartphones for emotion regulation processes. The assessment of distraction in relation to problematic use in vulnerable populations may facilitate interventions that could encourage metacognition and benefit these groups by allowing sustained productivity in an increasingly disrupted work and social environment.

The Effect of Solution-Focused Group Counseling Intervention on College Students' Internet Addiction: A Pilot Study

This pilot study aimed to explore the effect of solution-focused group counseling intervention on Internet addiction among college students. Eighteen college students participated in this study, out of which nine subjects were assigned into the experimental group and the rest (n = 9) to a control group. The experimental group received group counseling for five weeks, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The revised version of the Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R) was used to capture pre-test and post-test excessive use in the two groups. The experimental group was also subjected to a follow-up test and self-reported Internet addiction scores six months after the end of group counseling. Results showed that after the five-week solution-focused group counseling, the scores of four dimensions of the CIAS-R in the experimental group had CIAS-R decreased, and the reduction trend of the total score of CIAS-R was similar across all subjects in this group. The treatment effect was larger than the placebo reduction in the control group in two dimensions: compulsive and withdrawal (Sym-C & Sym-W) and tolerance (Sym-T) symptoms. Qualitative research confirmed the conclusions from the quantitative data, showing that the experimental group reduced its Internet addiction symptoms. Overall, the findings suggested that solution-focused group counseling had positive intervention effects on Internet addiction.