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Montag C, Müller M, Pontes HM, Elhai JD. On fear of missing out, social networks use disorder tendencies and meaning in life. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:358. [PMID: 37884983 PMCID: PMC10601113 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01342-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Much research has been conducted on the association between social networks use disorder tendencies (SNUD; i.e. problematic social media use) and well-being. In more detail, a meta-analysis and further research suggest an inverse association between higher SNUD tendencies and lower well-being. In existing studies on social media use and well-being, this association has often been investigated by asking participants about their life satisfaction and/or emotional well-being. A path that has only recently been used to shed further light on SNUD tendencies is the assessment of meaning in life. Against this background, the present study aimed to investigate both the search for and presence of meaning in life in the context of SNUD tendencies in 955 participants. To the best of our knowledge and beyond what has been mentioned, this study is the first to investigate the links between meaning in life variables and state/trait fear of missing out (FoMO), with FoMO being a critical variable known to be linked to the overuse of digital technologies. In a structural equation model, we observed that associations between FoMO and meaning in life variables was mediated by SNUD tendencies. Although the present study is of cross-cultural nature and cannot establish causality, it might be the case that proneness to FoMO might trigger SNUD tendencies and as a consequence, results in more search for meaning in life, while hindering presence of meaning in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Montag
- Department of Molecular Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Helmholtzstr. 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Marko Müller
- Department of Molecular Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Helmholtzstr. 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Halley M Pontes
- School of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Jon D Elhai
- Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
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So WWY, Woo BPY, Wong C, Yip PSF. Gender differences in the relationships between meaning in life, mental health status and digital media use during Covid-19. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1770. [PMID: 37697289 PMCID: PMC10496374 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16672-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on individuals' social lives, mental health status, and meaning in life (MIL). Globally, the use of different types of digital media has become a proxy for pre-COVID social lives for many people. This study investigated gender differences in the relationship between use of digital media, mental health status and MIL, during COVID-19 in Hong Kong. METHODS This cross-sectional study surveyed 1,488 young people recruited via city-wide random sampling in 2021. Respondents completed a phone survey on digital media use, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2), COVID-19 impact, meaning in life, and demographics. Gender differences in MIL were tested with an independent sample t-test. Gender-specific multiple linear regression models tested associations between MIL and explanatory variables of age, educational level, history of diagnosis, digital media use, and mental health status. RESULTS There was a significant gender difference in MIL (males (M = 12.90, SD = 4.12); females (M = 13.45, SD = 3.96); t (1485) = -2.656, p = .008). For males, all variables significantly associated to MIL (F (9, 759) = 15.731, p < .000, R2 = .157). However, for females, while the overall model for MIL was significant (F (9, 709) = 12.105, p < .001, R2 = .133), the only significant associated variable was mental health status. CONCLUSION Females had significantly better MIL under COVID-19 than males. Digital media use contributed to MIL in males but not females, and there were gender-specific associated factors of MIL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Wing Yan So
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Bowie Po Yi Woo
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Clifford Wong
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Paul Siu Fai Yip
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
- Department of Social Work & Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
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Pang H, Liu Y. Untangling the effect of cognitive trust and perceived value on health-related information seeking, sharing and psychological well-being:Motivations sought perspective. TELEMATICS AND INFORMATICS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tele.2023.101964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
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Vail KE, Galgali M, Reed DE, Helm PJ, Edwards ME, Jimenez T, Arndt J, Lehinger E, Sedivy L, McGeary DD, Nabity P, Cobos B. COVID-19-related threat, existential isolation, and well-being. CLIN PSYCHOL-UK 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/13284207.2022.2155510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth E. Vail
- Department of Psychology, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Madhwa Galgali
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - David E. Reed
- Center for Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Peter J. Helm
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Megan E. Edwards
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Tyler Jimenez
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jamie Arndt
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Elizabeth Lehinger
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lauren Sedivy
- Department of Psychology, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Donald D. McGeary
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Texas Health Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Paul Nabity
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Texas Health Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Briana Cobos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Texas Health Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Bonsaksen T, Ruffolo M, Price D, Leung J, Thygesen H, Lamph G, Kabelenga I, Geirdal AØ. Associations between social media use and loneliness in a cross-national population: do motives for social media use matter? Health Psychol Behav Med 2023; 11:2158089. [PMID: 36618890 PMCID: PMC9817115 DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2022.2158089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to examine the association between social media use and loneliness two years after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. METHODS Participants were 1649 adults who completed a cross-sectional online survey disseminated openly in Norway, United Kingdom, USA, and Australia between November 2021 and January 2022. Linear regressions examined time spent on social media and participants' characteristics on loneliness, and interactions by motives for social media use. RESULTS Participants who worried more about their health and were younger, not employed, and without a spouse or partner reported higher levels of loneliness compared to their counterparts. More time spent on social media was associated with more loneliness (β = 0.12, p < 0.001). Three profile groups emerged for social media use motives: 1) social media use motive ratings on avoiding difficult feelings higher or the same as for maintaining contact; 2) slightly higher ratings for maintaining contact; and 3) substantially higher ratings for maintaining contact. Time spent on social media was significant only in motive profile groups 2 and 3 (β = 0.12 and β = 0.14, both p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that people who use social media for the motive of maintaining their relationships feel lonelier than those who spend the same amount of time on social media for other reasons. While social media may facilitate social contact to a degree, they may not facilitate the type of contact sought by those who use social media primarily for this reason.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tore Bonsaksen
- Department of Health and Nursing Science, Faculty of Social and Health Science, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway,Department of Health, Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Stavanger, Norway, Tore Bonsaksen Department of Health and Nursing Science, Faculty of Social and Health Science, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
| | - Mary Ruffolo
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Daicia Price
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Janni Leung
- Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Hilde Thygesen
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway,Department of Health, Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gary Lamph
- School of Nursing, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - Isaac Kabelenga
- Department of Social Development Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia,Zambian Center for Poverty Reduction and Research Limited, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Amy Østertun Geirdal
- Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
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Social media use in female adolescents: Associations with anxiety, loneliness, and sleep disturbances. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2022; 229:103706. [PMID: 35973307 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Social Media Disorder (SMD) is characterised by the intense and excessive use of social media. Although previous studies have shown that SMD was associated with poor mental health, research across types of usage and platforms remain limited. Here, we conducted an initial investigation of social media usage across platforms and its relation to anxiety, sleep and loneliness in female adolescents. Forty one 16- to 19-year-old British female adolescents were administered online questionnaires. Intensity of social media activity across Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter was measured with the Social Media Disorder Scale. Anxiety was indicated by the Beck Anxiety Inventory Trait, loneliness was examined via a short three-point questionnaire and sleep quality was measured via both the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and self-reported seven-day sleep diaries. Results showed that, compared to those without SMD, users with SMD experienced elevated levels of loneliness and had less sleep on average, and during the weekdays in particular. Only frequency of posting on Facebook, but not general usage, was associated with poorer sleep quality. These preliminary findings showed that social media disorder across platforms and usage could potentially have different associations to mental health and sleep.
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Pollock Star A, Bachner YG, Cohen B, Haglili O, O'Rourke N. Social Media Use and Well-being With Bipolar Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Path Analysis. JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e39519. [PMID: 35980726 PMCID: PMC9437779 DOI: 10.2196/39519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Reliable and consistent social support is associated with the mental health and well-being of persons with severe mental illness, including bipolar disorder (BD). Yet the COVID-19 pandemic and associated social distancing measures (eg, shelter in place) reduced access to regular social contacts, while social media use (SMU) increased concomitantly. Little is currently known about associations between the well-being of adults with BD and different types of SMU (eg, passive and active). Objective For this study, we had two goals. First, we report descriptive information regarding SMU by persons with BD during COVID-19 (all platforms). Specific to Facebook, we next developed and tested a hypothesized model to identify direct and indirect associations between BD symptoms, social support, loneliness, life satisfaction, and SMU. Responses were collected during the global spread of the Delta variant and prior/concurrent with the Omicron variant, 20 months after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Methods Over 8 weeks, we obtained responses from an international sample of 102 adults with BD using the Qualtrics online platform. Most had previously participated in the BADAS (Bipolar Affective Disorders and older Adults) Study (n=89, 87.3%); the remainder were recruited specifically for this research (n=13, 2.7%). The subsamples did not differ in age (t100=1.64; P=.10), gender (χ22=0.2; P=.90), socioeconomic status (χ26=9.9; P=.13), or time since BD diagnosis (t97=1.27; P=.21). Both were recruited using social media advertising micro-targeted to adults with BD. On average, participants were 53.96 (SD 13.22, range 20-77) years of age, they had completed 15.4 (SD 4.28) years of education, and were diagnosed with BD 19.6 (SD 10.31) years ago. Path analyses were performed to develop and test our hypothesized model. Results Almost all participants (n=95, 93.1%) reported having both Facebook and LinkedIn accounts; 91.2% (n=93) reported regular use of either or both. During the pandemic, most (n=62, 60.8%) reported accessing social media several times a day; 36.3% (n=37) reported using social media more often since the emergence of COVID-19. Specific to Facebook, the model we hypothesized differed somewhat from what emerged. The resulting model suggests that symptoms of depression predict loneliness and, inversely, social support and life satisfaction. Social support predicts social Facebook use, whereas passive Facebook use predicts life satisfaction. Symptoms of depression emerged as indirect predictors of SMU via social support. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the operational definition of passive-active SMU requires further analysis and refinement. In contrast to theory, passive Facebook use appears positively associated with well-being among certain populations. Longitudinal data collection over multiple points is required to identify associations between BD symptoms, SMU, and well-being over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Pollock Star
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Yaacov G Bachner
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- Multidisciplinary Center for Research on Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Bar Cohen
- Goldman Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Ophir Haglili
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Norm O'Rourke
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- Multidisciplinary Center for Research on Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
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