Cited by 223Impact of Technology on AdolescentsSexuality, Behavior, and TechnologyGambling Behavior and Treatments

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 61 of the 65 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 26 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Addictive use of social networking sites can be explained by the interaction of Internet use expectancies, Internet literacy, and psychopathological symptoms

Open access
Wegmann, Elisa, Stodt, Benjamin, Brand, Matthias·2015·Journal of Behavioral Addictions

Abstract

Background and Aims: Most people use the Internet in a functional way to achieve certain goals and needs. However, there is an increasing number of people who experience negative consequences like loss of control and distress based on an excessive use of the Internet and its specific online applications. Some approaches postulate similarities with behavioral addictions as well as substance dependencies. They differentiate between a generalized and a specific Internet addiction, such as the pathological use of social networking sites (SIA–SNS). Prior studies particularly identified the use of applications, personal characteristics, and psychopathological symptoms as significant predictors for the development and maintenance of this phenomenon. So far, it remains unclear how psychopathological symptoms like depression and social anxiety interact with individual expectancies of Internet use and capabilities of handling the Internet, summarized as Internet literacy. Methods: The current study ( N = 334) investigated the interaction of these components in a structural equation model. Results: The results indicate that the effects of depression and social anxiety on SIA–SNS were mediated by Internet use expectancies and self-regulation. Discussion: Thus, Internet use expectancies seem to be crucial for SIA–SNS, which is in line with prior models. Conclusions: SNS use may be reinforced by experienced gratification and relief from negative feelings. Individual competences in handling the Internet may be preventive for the development of SIA–SNS.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1556/2006.4.2015.021

Cites

61 of 61 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Claims the paper makes

30 Own result · 16 Not checked yet · 13 Own interpretation · 8 Own method

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  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 10
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 13
21 of 21
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Internet users have certain needs and goals that can be achieved by different Internet applications.

    “It is based on the assumption that Internet users have certain needs and goals, which can be achieved by different Internet applications.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Depressive people have less self-control and are socially isolated.

    “It is based on the assumption that depressive people have less self-control and are socially isolated (Hong et al., 2014).”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Users experience online gratification of needs.

    “A further explanation of the relationship between IA and UAG is based on the assumption that users experience online gratification of needs.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The gratification of individual and social needs by SNS can be summarized as expected outcome.

    “Thereby, it is assumed that the gratification of individual and social needs by SNS can be summarized as expected outcome.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    People with depressive symptoms and social anxiety expect SNS as a possibility to handle negative emotions.

    “Moreover, we assume that people with depressive symptoms and social anxiety expect SNS as a possibility to handle negative emotions.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The Internet literacy sub-dimension self-regulation can decrease the probability of developing an SIA–SNS.

    “We assume that the Internet literacy sub-dimension selfregulation can decrease the probability of developing an SIA–SNS.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The mechanism by which individual experiences with SNS lead to positive reinforcement of needs and cognitions is based on the expectancy to experience gratification and satisfy desires, and these experiences increase the likelihood of SIA–SNS.

    “This mechanism is assumed to be based upon the expectancy to experience gratification and to satisfy certain desires and that these experiences increase the likelihood of SIA–SNS (Brand, Young et al., 2014; Robinson & Berridge, 2000, 2003).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The BSI interpersonal sensitivity subscale measures social anxiety.

    “psychopathological symptoms like depression and social anxiety (operationalized by the BSI subscale interpersonal sensitivity)”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Self-regulation is an aspect of Internet literacy.

    “self-regulation as mediator representing an aspect of Internet literacy”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Production and interaction is a component of Internet literacy.

    “Production and interaction as a component of Internet literacy”
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  • Consistentt(150.42) = -2.92reported p = .004 · recomputed p = .004

    “t(150.42) = −2.92, p = .004”

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Citations

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Baacke D. (1999). Medienkompetenz als zentrales Operationsfeld von Projekten. In Baacke D., Kornblum S. & Lauffer J. (Eds.), Handbuch Medien: Medienkompetenz, Modelle und Projekte (pp. 31– 35). Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung.
  2. Kass R. E. & Raftery A. E. (1995). Bayes factors. Journal of American Statistical Association, 90, 773– 795.
  3. Muthén L. K. & Muthén B. O. (1998–2011). Mplus user’s guide (Vol. 6). Los Angeles: Muthén & Muthén.
  4. Weiber R. & Mühlhaus D. (2010). Strukturgleichungsmodellierung. Eine anwendungsorientierte Einführung in die Kausalanalyse mit Hilfe von AMOS, SmartPLS und SPSS. Heidelberg: Springer.

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Metadata

Authors
Wegmann, E., Stodt, B., & Brand, M.
Affiliations
  • University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
  • Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DE)
Corresponding author
Brand, Matthias
Venue
Journal of Behavioral Addictions
Published
2015-09
Volume
4
Issue
3
Pages
155-162
ISSN
2062-5871 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2154796819
Cited by
223
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 9
FWCI
48.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Behavioral Addictions (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Repository of the Academy's Library (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) (acceptedVersion)
  • DuEPublico (University of Duisburg-Essen) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
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 › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
Keywords
internet addiction, internet literacy, depression, social anxiety, self-regulation, behavioral addiction, psychiatric symptoms
MeSH terms
Literacy, Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Behavior, Addictive, Internet, Young Adult, Social Networking

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