A Mediated Path from Emotional Intelligence to Problematic Social Media Use in Adolescents: The Serial Mediation of Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms
Abstract
Online social networking is an intrinsic part of present life. However, if individuals believe that some basic psychological needs can only be fulfilled through social networking sites, an addictive pattern of usage may emerge. Problematic social media use (PSMU) is a growing concern in adolescence. The present study aimed at contributing to prior scientific literature by testing a model that considers low emotional intelligence (EI) as a vulnerability factor, perceived stress and depressive symptoms as affective and cognitive responses to conflicting situations, and PSMU as a maladaptive coping mechanism. In this study, 2068 Spanish adolescents (46.2% male, 53.8% female) within the ages of 12 and 19 (M = 14.61, SD = 1.62) completed self-report measures of the above-mentioned constructs. Results indicated that (a) perceived stress was a significant mediator in the association between EI and PSMU, (b) depressive symptoms were a significant mediator in this link, and (c) a significant serial mediation model was supported, in which lower EI predicted higher perceived stress, which contributed to higher levels of depressive symptoms, thus resulting in higher PSMU. These results provide important empirical evidence suggesting promising pathways towards preventing PSMU in adolescents, such as EI training, teaching stress-reduction techniques and focusing on reducing depressive symptoms.
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The correlational analyses of Kircaburun (2019) and Arrivillaga (2022a) show a significant negative association between dysfunctional mechanisms of social media use and emotional intelligence.
“The correlational analyses of the Kirkaburun (2019) and Arrivillaga (2022a) study show a significant negative association between dysfunctional mechanisms of social media use and emotional intelligence”
From Adolescent Social Media Use and Emotional Intelligence: A Systematic Review (2025) · cites this paper as Arrivillaga (2022a)
Media literacy education has been shown to reduce the negative impact of social media on body image and self-esteem.
“This educational approach has been shown to reduce the negative impact of social media on body image and self-esteem [35,36,37,45].”
Media literacy education helps young individuals develop critical thinking skills, enabling them to analyze and question social media content.
“The existing literature indicates that media literacy education helps young individuals develop critical thinking skills, enabling them to analyze and question the content they encounter on social media.”
Strengthening self-esteem equips individuals to resist the detrimental impact of negative social comparisons and maintain a healthier relationship with their bodies.
“By strengthening self-esteem, individuals are better equipped to resist the detrimental impact of negative social comparisons and maintain a healthier relationship with their bodies [37].”
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- Authors
- Arrivillaga, C., Rey, L., & Extremera, N.
- Affiliations
- Universidad de Málaga (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Arrivillaga, Christiane
- Venue
- Addictive Behaviors
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-01
- Volume
- 124
- Pages
- 107095
- ISSN
- 0306-4603 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3196199638
- Cited by
- 85
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 15.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Addictive Behaviors (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Junta de Andalucía (UMA 18-FEDERJA-147)
- Universidad de Málaga (PPIT.UMA.A2.2019, CTS-1048)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
- Keywords
- social media addiction, emotional intelligence, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, adolescents, serial mediation, social networking sites, psychological needs, coping strategies, prevention
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Stress, Psychological, Emotional Intelligence, Social Networking, Social Media
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