Self-Regulation as a Key Boundary Condition in the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Well-Being

Impact of National Lockdown Measures on the Association Between Social Media Use and Sleep Disturbance During COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of 21 Nations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the extensive lockdown measures implemented for disease mitigation triggered a surge in round-the-clock social media use, giving rise to widespread concerns regarding its impact on sleep health. This meta-analysis examined the association between social media use and sleep disturbance during the pandemic, along with potential moderators. The dataset included 43 independent samples comprising 68,247 residents of 21 countries across 7 world regions. The three-level mixed-effects meta-analysis revealed a weak, positive overall effect size (r = 0.1296, 95% confidence interval: 0.0764-0.1828, k = 90). The magnitude of the effect size varied by the type of social media use: compulsive use exhibited a moderately strong effect size, whereas information-focused use showed marginal significance. The effect size was more pronounced in countries imposing stricter (vs. less strict) lockdown measures. Lockdown status also moderated this association, with a marginally significant effect size observed during lockdowns but a significant effect size after lockdowns. For demographics, samples involving emerging adults demonstrated moderately strong effect sizes, whereas those involving the general population had modest effect sizes. Notably, the interaction between the type of social media use and lockdown status was significant. Specifically, the positive association with information-focused use was significant only during lockdowns, whereas that with general use was significant after, but not during, lockdowns. However, compulsive use showed a moderately strong effect size both during and after lockdowns. These findings underscored the importance of considering multiple factors-such as the type of social media use, context, and demographics-when studying social media use and sleep health.

Dispositional and Social Correlates of Digital Status Seeking Among Adolescents

Social media have transformed peer relationships among adolescents, providing new avenues to attain online status indicators such as likes and followers. This study aimed to explore the associations between various dispositional and social factors and digital status-seeking behaviors among a sample of adolescents (N = 731; Mage = 14.69, 48.7 percent female), as well as explore potential gender differences in the examined associations. Sociometric nominations for digital status-seeking, likeability, and popularity were collected, and participants self-reported their social media use frequency, awareness of social media positivity bias, reward sensitivity, and gender. The findings revealed a positive relationship between sociometric popularity and digital status-seeking, whereas likeability displayed a negative association with digital status-seeking. These results emphasize the importance of distinguishing between different social status indicators in understanding online behaviors. Reward sensitivity did not show a significant link to digital status-seeking, and awareness of social media positivity bias heightened the likelihood of being nominated as a digital status-seeker. These findings underscore the need for further research, especially focusing on girls who appear to be more vulnerable to engaging in digital status-seeking behaviors.

Problematic internet use and psychological distress among student nurses: The mediating role of coping skills

Problematic internet use has become a growing concern among student nurses, posing potential risks to their well-being and academic performance. Yet, the extent to which coping skills can help alleviate the adverse effects of problematic internet use on the psychological well-being of student nurses remains largely understudied. This study examined the mediating role of coping skills in the relationship between problematic internet use and psychological distress among student nurses. This cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data from 279 student nurses enrolled in a public-funded nursing school. Mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS Macro with Model 4. Findings showed that student nurses reported moderate levels of problematic internet use with a mean score of 2.233 (SD = 0.765). Several factors strongly predicted problematic internet, including being on the 3rd year of education (β = -0.261, p < 0.001), having an average academic performance (β = 0.184, p = 0.006), and using the internet for <3 h per day (β = -0.304, p < 0.001). Problematic internet use was significantly associated with increased psychological distress (β = 0.1791, p < 0.01). Coping skills were found to mediate the relationship between problematic internet use and psychological distress (β = 0.0160, SE = 0.0095). Overall, this study sheds light on the determinants of problematic internet use among student nurses and its negative impact on psychological well-being. By addressing problematic internet use and promoting healthy coping mechanisms, nursing education can better prepare student nurses to maintain their well-being and academic performance in the digital age.

The Mediating Roles of Time Management and Learning Strategic Approach in the Relationship Between Smartphone Addiction and Academic Procrastination

Purpose

Smartphone is an indispensable everyday tool for college students, while excessive usage of smartphones may lead to negative outcomes, such as academic procrastination. Previous research has suggested that smartphone addiction is a predisposing factor for procrastination. To further understand the above relationship, structural equation model analysis was used to examine the mediating effects of time management and learning strategic approach in the association with smartphone addiction and academic procrastination.

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2021. A total of 1129 college students aged 18 to 22 participated in the present study was adopted the cluster random sampling method and the following tools were used: the Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale, Time Management Disposition Scale, Revised Approaches to Studying Inventory, and Aitken Procrastination Scale.

Results

Results indicated that smartphone addiction is positively linked to academic procrastination, while negatively linked to time management and learning strategic approach. Both time management and learning strategic approach were negatively linked to academic procrastination. Additionally, the results showed that time management and learning strategic approach serve sequential mediating roles in the association with smartphone addiction and academic procrastination among Chinese college students after controlling for age and sex (RMSEA = 0.045, SRMR = 0.035, TLI = 0.993, CFI = 0.979).

Conclusion

Time management and learning strategic approach serve sequential mediating roles in the association with smartphone addiction and academic procrastination among Chinese college students. Therefore, intervention management that focusing on improving time management as well as strengthening learning strategic approach may be useful for reducing academic procrastination among college students.

A mixed-methods study of problematic social media use, attention dysregulation, and social media use motives

Problematic social media use (PSMU) refers to excessive uncontrolled use of social media which impacts upon daily functioning (Blackwell et al., 2017). Self-regulation is central to the development and experience of PSMU, and conceptually interrelates with individual usage motivations (Reinecke et al., 2022). While there is a growing body of research on social media use motivations, how usage motivations and self-regulation combined influence PSMU is not well understood. There are also persistent questions around the effectiveness of addiction-based measures of PSMU. The quantitative component of this nested mixed-methods study (N = 607) employed hierarchical regression and structural equation modelling, principally identifying that impulsive social media usage mediates the pathway between perceived executive/attentional functioning and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS, Andreassen et al., 2012, 2016), a popular tool used to measure PSMU. In contrast, social-engagement motivations had a negative influence on the BSMAS. The qualitative component, comprising interview/open-ended questionnaire, explored individual experiences self-regulating social media use. Participants (N = 24) were recruited from the survey study, based on meeting screening criteria for executive dysfunction (Adult Self-Report ADHD Scale, Kessler et al., 2005), with sub-groups defined by top and bottom quartile BSMAS scores (evenly grouped). Thematic analysis found that most individuals with attention dysregulation, regardless of their BSMAS category, perceive self-regulation of social media use as highly challenging and effortful, describing broadly problematic relationship with social media. They also described rich combination of motivations and context of using social media, and strategies for managing use. This research questions the effectiveness of the BSMAS as a measure of general PSMU (lacking a formed self-regulation component), especially in individuals with attentional dysregulation. Future research investigating self-regulation strategies and focusing on characteristics of positive social media use is needed.