IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i24p16938-d1005755.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Attentional Bias Is Associated with Negative Emotions in Problematic Users of Social Media as Measured by a Dot-Probe Task

Author

Listed:
  • Jin Zhao

    (School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 511400, China)

  • Zinuan Zhou

    (Dongguan Songshan Lake Experimental Middle School, Dongguan 523000, China)

  • Bo Sun

    (School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 511400, China)

  • Xinyuan Zhang

    (School of New Media, Financial & Economic News, Guangdong University of Finance, Guangzhou 510521, China)

  • Lin Zhang

    (School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 511400, China)

  • Shimin Fu

    (School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 511400, China)

Abstract

Objective: Social media (SM) have flourished and are affecting human lives on an unprecedented scale. Problematic social media use (PSMU) is a recently emerging problematic behavior that affects both physical and mental health. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether problematic users of SM display attentional bias (AB) toward SM-related cues, as well as the relationships between AB, the severity of PSMU, and negative emotions. Method: 1000 college students were recruited through classes and online forums and then tested using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Eventually, 60 participants, identified by the cut-off point for BSMAS, consented to participate in the study and were divided into two groups (i.e., a problematic use group and a typical use group). The severity of PSMU and negative emotions (i.e., anxiety, depression, social fear, and loneliness) were evaluated by self-report questionnaires. AB was assessed by an addiction Stroop task and a dot-probe task (DPT). Results: PSMU was found to be positively associated with anxiety (r = 0.28, p < 0.05), depression (r = 0.35, p < 0.01), and social fear (r = 0.38, p < 0.01), but not with loneliness (r = 0.19, p = 0.15). Participants with a tendency toward PSMU displayed AB toward SM-related cues in the DPT [F (1, 58) = 26.77, p < 0.001, η p 2 = 0.32], but not in the Stroop task [F (1, 58) = 0.61, p = 0.44, η p 2 = 0.01]. Moreover, AB toward SM-related stimuli was found to be positively correlated with the severity of PSMU (r = −0.51, p < 0.001), anxiety (r = −0.37, p < 0.01), depression (r = −0.51, p < 0.001), and social fear (r = −0.30, p < 0.05) in the DPT. Conclusions: Problematic users of SM show AB towards SM-related cues in the DPT, which is more reliable for assessing AB than the Stroop task. Moreover, it is suggested that in clinical interventions we should work to change the AB towards SM-related stimuli and improve negative emotions to decrease risks of PSMU.

Suggested Citation

  • Jin Zhao & Zinuan Zhou & Bo Sun & Xinyuan Zhang & Lin Zhang & Shimin Fu, 2022. "Attentional Bias Is Associated with Negative Emotions in Problematic Users of Social Media as Measured by a Dot-Probe Task," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16938-:d:1005755
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/24/16938/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/24/16938/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Daria J. Kuss & Mark D. Griffiths, 2017. "Social Networking Sites and Addiction: Ten Lessons Learned," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, March.
    2. De Doncker, Kirk & McLean, Nyx, 2022. "Social media, sleep difficulties and depressive symptoms: A case study of South African youth in Cape Town," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Daria J. Kuss & Lydia Harkin & Eiman Kanjo & Joel Billieux, 2018. "Problematic Smartphone Use: Investigating Contemporary Experiences Using a Convergent Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Lara Scherer & Lisa Mader & Klaus Wölfling & Manfred E. Beutel & Boris Egloff & Kai W. Müller, 2022. "Nosological Characteristics in Women with Social Media Disorder: The Role of Social Functional Impairment and Agreeableness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-11, November.
    3. Melina A. Throuvala & Mark D. Griffiths & Mike Rennoldson & Daria J. Kuss, 2019. "A ‘Control Model’ of Social Media Engagement in Adolescence: A Grounded Theory Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Steven S. Chan & Michelle Van Solt & Ryan E. Cruz & Matthew Philp & Shalini Bahl & Nuket Serin & Nelson Borges Amaral & Robert Schindler & Abbey Bartosiak & Smriti Kumar & Murad Canbulut, 2022. "Social media and mindfulness: From the fear of missing out (FOMO) to the joy of missing out (JOMO)," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(3), pages 1312-1331, September.
    5. Majid Altuwairiqi & Nan Jiang & Raian Ali, 2019. "Problematic Attachment to Social Media: Five Behavioural Archetypes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-36, June.
    6. Sarah Helene Aarestad & Tine Almenning Flaa & Mark D. Griffiths & Ståle Pallesen, 2023. "Smartphone Addiction and Subjective Withdrawal Effects: A Three-Day Experimental Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    7. José-María Romero-Rodríguez & Inmaculada Aznar-Díaz & José-Antonio Marín-Marín & Rebeca Soler-Costa & Carmen Rodríguez-Jiménez, 2020. "Impact of Problematic Smartphone Use and Instagram Use Intensity on Self-Esteem with University Students from Physical Education," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-10, June.
    8. Min-Jung Kwak & Hyun Cho & Dai-Jin Kim, 2022. "The Role of Motivation Systems, Anxiety, and Low Self-Control in Smartphone Addiction among Smartphone-Based Social Networking Service (SNS) Users," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, June.
    9. Zhou, Fei & Lin, Youhai & Mou, Jian & Cohen, Jason & Chen, Sihua, 2023. "Understanding the dark side of gamified interactions on short-form video platforms: Through a lens of expectations violations theory," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PB).
    10. Goodness Chinazor Joshua Chukwuere & Joshua Ebere Chukwuere, 2023. "The Difficulties Posed by Digital Technology: Understanding the Psychological Consequences of Social Media Use on Young Adults' Body Image and Self-Esteem," Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing Ltd, vol. 12, November.
    11. Alessandro Costantini & Cristina Semeraro & Pasquale Musso & Rosalinda Cassibba & Gabrielle Coppola, 2022. "The Role of Parenting, Dysregulation and Self-Esteem in Adolescents’ Problematic Social Network Site Use: A Test of Parallel and Serial Mediation Models in a Healthy Community Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    12. Olatz Lopez-Fernandez, 2018. "Generalised Versus Specific Internet Use-Related Addiction Problems: A Mixed Methods Study on Internet, Gaming, and Social Networking Behaviours," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-33, December.
    13. Montserrat Peris & Usue de la Barrera & Konstanze Schoeps & Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla, 2020. "Psychological Risk Factors that Predict Social Networking and Internet Addiction in Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-23, June.
    14. Honglei Mu & Qiaojie Jiang & Jiang Xu & Sijing Chen, 2022. "Drivers and Consequences of Short-Form Video (SFV) Addiction amongst Adolescents in China: Stress-Coping Theory Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-18, October.
    15. Alicia Tamarit & Konstanze Schoeps & Montserrat Peris-Hernández & Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla, 2021. "The Impact of Adolescent Internet Addiction on Sexual Online Victimization: The Mediating Effects of Sexting and Body Self-Esteem," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-17, April.
    16. Xingchen Zhu & Wencan Li & Haohan Zhao & Jinsheng Hu, 2024. "Surfing into trouble? How internet use influences early adolescent behavior through diverse pathways?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    17. Norsyazwani Mohd Ramli & Syukrina Alini Mat Ali & Noorain Mohamad Yunus & Sri Fatiany Abdul Kader Jailani & Nor Diyana Mohammed Shobri, 2024. "Exploring the Phenomenon of Selfie-Posting Behavior among Social Media Users," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 16(1), pages 94-105.
    18. Bagheri, Reyhaneh & Ostovar, Shahla & Griffiths, Mark D. & Mohd Hashim, Intan Hashimah, 2023. "Server connection versus marital disconnection: An investigation of the effect of internet addiction on couple burnout in Iran," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    19. Bernard Claverie & Baptiste Prébot, 2024. "Low-level cognitive warfare: The War of the brains [La guerre cognitive de bas niveau : la guerre des cerveaux]," Post-Print hal-04475734, HAL.
    20. Hiu Yan Wong & Hoi Yi Mo & Marc N. Potenza & Mung Ni Monica Chan & Wai Man Lau & Tsz Kwan Chui & Amir H. Pakpour & Chung-Ying Lin, 2020. "Relationships between Severity of Internet Gaming Disorder, Severity of Problematic Social Media Use, Sleep Quality and Psychological Distress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-13, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16938-:d:1005755. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.