Problematic Social Network Use: Structure and Assessment

Abstract

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.

Does Problematic Use of Social Network Mediate the Association between Bullying Victimization and Loneliness among Lebanese Adolescents?

“… Problematic Use of SNs (PUS) Scale. The PUS is a self-report scale that examines the potential impact of social networking’s (SNs) use on addiction, with a focus on the way SNs are being used in a comparative manner, and evaluating problematic SN use without a specific focus on a particular social media network, and therefore can be generalized to various SNs [ 34 ]. The instrument is composed of 18 Likert-type items with five possible options (1 = completely disagree, 5 = completely agree).…”

“…Beside addictive consequences, a key factor in PUSN, known as negative social comparison [ 33 ], is studied as the second component of the PUSN scale [ 34 ]. Social comparison is defined as a self-evaluation where the person compares themselves to others [ 35 ].…”

Uso de redes sociales en la preadolescencia: diferencias de género

“…En primer lugar, los resultados obtenidos sugieren que la educación en el uso seguro y responsable de las redes sociales es una necesidad clara que debe tener lugar antes de la edad en la que legalmente se pueden usar. Un uso inadecuado de la red puede exponer a los menores a posibles peligros (Astorga-Aguilar y Schmidt-Fonseca, 2019;González-Nuevo et al, 2021;Martinez-Libano, et at., 2022;Tejada, et al, 2019). Según el informe de EU Kids Online (Garmendia et al, 2019) algunos riesgos son: el ciberbullying, el sexting, el grooming, la adicción a internet, la pornografía, exponer su vida privada y contactar con extraños.…”

Common Humanity as an Under-acknowledged Mechanism for Mental Health Peer Support

“…Seventy-eight percent of participants in one study reported comparison was the most effective to maintain a high level of quality of life (Graham Beaumont & Kenealy, 2004). SCT identifies two forms of social comparison: upward and downward (González-Nuevo et al, 2021). Upward comparison may occur when working with a PS worker who has recovered from a similar challenge, which may result in the service user feeling more hopeful that they too can overcome the challenge.…”