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Investigating the links between objective social media use, attentional control, and psychological distress

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  • Jones, Chloe N.
  • Rudaizky, Daniel
  • Mahalingham, Tamsin
  • Clarke, Patrick J.F.

Abstract

Social media use (SMU) has been associated with negative mental health outcomes and has been implicated in inhibitory attentional control deficits. However, findings have been inconsistent, in part due to methodological limitations in past studies (e.g., over-reliance on self-report SMU and attentional control measures). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the associations between SMU, psychological distress (including depression, anxiety, and stress), and inhibitory attentional control, using objective measures of SMU and inhibitory attentional control. Participants (N = 425) completed the DASS-21 and an antisaccade task, and SMU data was accessed via mobile phones, as minutes/week spent using TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter/X. Bivariate correlations were examined, and a moderation analysis was conducted to determine whether attentional control moderated the association between SMU and psychological distress. Our findings revealed that SMU was positively associated with attentional control and anxiety, while TikTok use was positively associated with attentional control, and Facebook use with psychological distress. However, the observed associations were very small, suggesting that the links between SMU and both psychological distress and attentional control may be over-stated, particularly in studies that have utilised self-report SMU measures. No moderating effect of attentional control on the relationship between SMU and psychological distress was observed. These findings highlight the importance of utilising objective SMU and cognitive measures when examining the links between SMU, mental health, and cognitive processes (like attentional control), and to corroborate findings based on associations with self-report SMU indicators.

Suggested Citation

  • Jones, Chloe N. & Rudaizky, Daniel & Mahalingham, Tamsin & Clarke, Patrick J.F., 2024. "Investigating the links between objective social media use, attentional control, and psychological distress," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 361(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:361:y:2024:i:c:s0277953624008542
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117400
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    1. Elena Bozzola & Giulia Spina & Rino Agostiniani & Sarah Barni & Rocco Russo & Elena Scarpato & Antonio Di Mauro & Antonella Vita Di Stefano & Cinthia Caruso & Giovanni Corsello & Annamaria Staiano, 2022. "The Use of Social Media in Children and Adolescents: Scoping Review on the Potential Risks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-33, August.
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    3. Arulmani Thiyagarajan & Tyler G. James & Roy Rillera Marzo, 2022. "Psychometric properties of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) among Malaysians during COVID-19: a methodological study," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
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