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Problematic Social-Networks-Use in German Children and Adolescents—The Interaction of Need to Belong, Online Self-Regulative Competences, and Age

Author

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  • Sina Ostendorf

    (Department of General Psychology: Cognition and Center for Behavioral Addiction Research (CeBAR), University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Duisburg, Germany)

  • Elisa Wegmann

    (Department of General Psychology: Cognition and Center for Behavioral Addiction Research (CeBAR), University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Duisburg, Germany)

  • Matthias Brand

    (Department of General Psychology: Cognition and Center for Behavioral Addiction Research (CeBAR), University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
    Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 45141 Essen, Germany)

Abstract

Adolescents nowadays spend much time communicating via social networks. Recent investigations also report a noticeable proportion showing a problematic usage behavior, underlining the importance of better understanding its development and maintenance in young individuals. Theoretical views on Internet-use disorders assume that specific predispositions and needs can contribute to addictive behaviors in interaction with further aspects including Internet-related cognitive biases. This study focuses on vulnerable individuals due to their age and investigates interactions between possible risk (need to belong, NTB) and protective factors (online self-regulative competences, OSRC). Participants ( N = 466) between 10 and 17 years answered questionnaires assessing social-networks-use disorder symptoms, NTB, and OSRC. Moderated regression analysis revealed significant effects of age, NTB, and OSRC. Three-way interaction was also significant (potentially mainly caused by females), with highest social-networks-use disorder symptoms found for individuals with high NTB and low OSRC, especially when older. With high OSRC, symptoms were significantly lower for both younger and older individuals having high NTB. However, even if NTB was low, older individuals showed high social-networks-use disorder symptoms if their OSRC were low. The results highlight the importance of improving specific competences to prevent problematic usage behaviors, which should be considered in youth-tailored prevention and intervention programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Sina Ostendorf & Elisa Wegmann & Matthias Brand, 2020. "Problematic Social-Networks-Use in German Children and Adolescents—The Interaction of Need to Belong, Online Self-Regulative Competences, and Age," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:7:p:2518-:d:342241
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Benjamin Stodt & Matthias Brand & Cornelia Sindermann & Elisa Wegmann & Mei Li & Min Zhou & Peng Sha & Christian Montag, 2018. "Investigating the Effect of Personality, Internet Literacy, and Use Expectancies in Internet-Use Disorder: A Comparative Study between China and Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-27, March.
    2. Daria J. Kuss & Mark D. Griffiths, 2017. "Social Networking Sites and Addiction: Ten Lessons Learned," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, March.
    3. Miguel-Ángel Pertegal & Alfredo Oliva & Ana Rodríguez-Meirinhos, 2019. "Development and validation of the Scale of Motives for Using Social Networking Sites (SMU-SNS) for adolescents and youths," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(12), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Elisabeth Staksrud & Kjartan Ólafsson & Sonia Livingstone, 2013. "Does the use of social networking sites increase children’s risk of harm?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 45016, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    Cited by:

    1. Olatz Lopez-Fernandez, 2021. "Emerging Health and Education Issues Related to Internet Technologies and Addictive Problems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-19, January.
    2. Kseniia Zahrai & Ekant Veer & Paul William Ballantine & Huibert Peter de Vries & Girish Prayag, 2022. "Either you control social media or social media controls you: Understanding the impact of self‐control on excessive social media use from the dual‐system perspective," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(2), pages 806-848, June.
    3. Melina A. Throuvala & Mark D. Griffiths & Mike Rennoldson & Daria J. Kuss, 2020. "Mind over Matter: Testing the Efficacy of an Online Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Distraction from Smartphone Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-30, July.

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