The DOI matches its Crossref record; 4 of the 4 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Identity Confusion and Materialism Mediate the Relationship Between Excessive Social Network Site Usage and Online Compulsive Buying
Abstract
This study investigates the mediating role of identity confusion and materialism in the relationship between social networking site (SNS) excessive usage and online compulsive buying among young adults. A total of 501 SNS users aged 17 to 23 years (M = 19.68, SD = 1.65) completed an online survey questionnaire. A serial multiple mediator model was developed and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. The results showed that excessive young adult SNS users had a higher tendency toward compulsive buying online. This was partly because they experienced higher identity confusion and developed higher levels of materialism. Targeted psychological interventions seeking to gradually increase identity clarity to buffer the detrimental effects of SNS usage and identity confusion in young adults are suggested.
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“In contrast, two studies indicated that adolescents who used social media excessively had an unclear self-concept (Sharif & Khanekharab, 2017; Yu & Shek, 2021).”
From A Systematic Review of Social Media Use and Adolescent Identity Development (2025) · cites this paper as Sharif & Khanekharab, 2017
Citations
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Liu, P., He, J., & Li, A. (2019) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2019.02.003 · Cited by 167
A Systematic Review of Social Media Use and Adolescent Identity Development
Avci, H., Baams, L., & Kretschmer, T. (2025) · Adolescent Research Review · doi:10.1007/s40894-024-00251-1 · Cited by 104
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Zheng, Y., Yang, X., Zhou, R., Niu, G., Liu, Q., & Zhou, Z. (2020) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106569 · Cited by 76
Metadata
- Authors
- Sharif, S. P., & Khanekharab, J.
- Affiliations
- Taylor's University (MY)
- Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (MY)
- Corresponding author
- Sharif, Saeed Pahlevan
- Venue
- Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2017-08
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 494-500
- ISSN
- 2152-2715 (ISSN-L)
- 2152-2723
- OpenAlex
- W2748347438
- Cited by
- 94
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 7
- FWCI
- 14.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Consumer Retail Behavior Studies
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Consumer Behavior in Brand Consumption and Identification
- Keywords
- social network sites, excessive social media use, identity confusion, materialism, young adults
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Compulsive Behavior, Confusion, Humans, Personality, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Support, Internet, Young Adult
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