Using social networking sites during lockdown: risks and benefits

Gonzalez-Nuevo, C, Cuesta, M, Postigo, A, Manendez-Aller, A, Garcia-Fernandez, J and Kuss, D ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8917-782X, 2022. Using social networking sites during lockdown: risks and benefits. Psicothema, 34 (3), pp. 365-374. ISSN 0214-9915

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Abstract

Background: Previous research about use of Social Networking Sites (SNS) use during the COVID-19 lockdown has examined benefits and risks of SNS use (i.e., support through SNS, problematic SNS use and interaction about COVID-19) without comparing them. This study has two objectives: (i) to evaluate which SNS uses (problematic SNS use and interaction about COVID-19 on SNS) predict increased emotional distress, and (ii) to analyse if social support and interaction about COVID-19 mediated the relationship between time spent on SNS and increased emotional distress.

Method: A total of 1,003 participants (75.5% women) over 18 years old took part (M = 42.33; SD = 14.32 years). Three hierarchical linear regressions were performed for the first objective and a path analysis was performed for the second.

Results: Results showed that negative social comparison on SNS had the highest positive regression weight, followed by interaction about COVID-19 and addictive consequences. Also, an indirect effect of time spent on SNS on anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction through interaction about COVID-19 and support through SNS was found.

Conclusions: The results indicate that comparative SNS use is the best predictor of emotional distress. The mediation model proposed was confirmed, highlighting the importance of assessing specific SNS uses.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Psicothema
Creators:	Gonzalez-Nuevo, C., Cuesta, M., Postigo, A., Manendez-Aller, A., Garcia-Fernandez, J. and Kuss, D.
Publisher:	Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos del Principado de Asturias
Date:	2022
Volume:	34
Number:	3
ISSN:	0214-9915
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.7334/psicothema2022.51 DOI 1578952 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	09 Aug 2022 09:56
Last Modified:	09 Aug 2022 09:56
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/46844

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