Problematic Social Network Use: Structure and Assessment
Open accessAbstract
Using social networks (SNs) inappropriately can lead to psychological problems. The objective of this study was to develop a new measuring instrument of problematic use of SNs. The sample comprised 1003 participants over 18 years old (M = 42.33; SD = 14.32). Exploratory factor analysis was performed with a randomly selected 30% of the sample, and confirmatory factor analysis with the remaining 70%. The reliability of the instrument was estimated, and evidence of validity in relation to the variables—anxiety, depression and satisfaction with life—was obtained. The new scale demonstrated a two-dimensional structure (GFI =0.99; RMSEA= 0.06), with one factor of negative social comparison (α = 0.94) and another of addictive consequences (α = 0.91). Clear evidence of validity related to other variables was found. The new scale demonstrated good psychometric properties. The advantage of this questionnaire is that it assesses not only excessive use but also social comparison through SNs.
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Social motivations aimed at maintaining interpersonal relationships, friendships, or links with peers in social networks play an important role in continuing unhealthy or problematic behaviors in the use of these media.
“Therefore, social motivations aimed at maintaining interpersonal relationships, friendships, or links with peers in social networks (perceived as rewarding) play an important role in continuing unhealthy or problematic behaviors in the use of these media (González-Nuevo et al., 2021;Moretta et al., 2022;Varona et al., 2022).”
From Problematic use of social media in adolescents or excessive social gratification? The mediating role of nomophobia (2024) · cites this paper as González-Nuevo et al., 2021
The Method > Instruments and Discussion and Conclusions passages discuss addictive consequences and negative social comparison in problematic social-network use, but do not address why people continue that use. Searches for friendships, peer relationships, social motivations, and rewarding interactions found no passage linking those motives to continued problematic behavior. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.72)
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Cites
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- Authors
- González-Nuevo, C., Cuesta, M., Postigo, Á., Menéndez-Aller, Á., & Muñiz, J.
- Affiliations
- Universidad de Oviedo (ES)
- Universidad Nebrija (ES)
- Venue
- International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
- Published
- 2021-12-02
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 2122-2137
- ISSN
- 1557-1874 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-1882
- PMC
- PMC8638649
- OpenAlex
- W4200380814
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3
- FWCI
- 3.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Universidad de Oviedo
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Keywords
- social media addiction, scale development, anxiety, depression, life satisfaction, psychometric properties, questionnaire validation
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