IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i8p4621-d791783.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Social Media Addiction during COVID-19-Mandated Physical Distancing: Relatedness Needs as Motives

Author

Listed:
  • Cecilia Cheng

    (Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong)

  • Yan-Ching Lau

    (Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK)

Abstract

In the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, national lockdowns and stay-at-home orders were implemented by many countries to curb the rate of infection. An extended stay-at-home period can frustrate people’s need for relatedness, with many turning to social media to interact with others in the outside world. However, social media use may be maladaptive due to its associations with social media addiction and psychosocial problems. Our study was set at this special context to examine the associations among social media addiction, two aspects of relatedness needs (i.e., satisfaction and frustration), and two prominent psychosocial problems (i.e., depressive symptoms and loneliness). The participants were 1048 residents of the U.K. or U.S. (46% men, mean age = 44.10 years, SD = 12.59, age range: 18–65). The results indicated significant positive associations between relatedness need frustration and social media addiction as well as significant positive associations between social media addiction and the two types of psychosocial problems. More importantly, both of these significant associations were strong enough to partially explain the significant positive associations between relatedness need frustration and the two types of psychosocial problems. These findings provided some support for relatedness need frustration as a motivation of social media addiction.

Suggested Citation

  • Cecilia Cheng & Yan-Ching Lau, 2022. "Social Media Addiction during COVID-19-Mandated Physical Distancing: Relatedness Needs as Motives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:8:p:4621-:d:791783
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/8/4621/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/8/4621/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chiungjung Huang, 2022. "A meta-analysis of the problematic social media use and mental health," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 68(1), pages 12-33, February.
    2. Dorrit Posel & Adeola Oyenubi & Umakrishnan Kollamparambil, 2021. "Job loss and mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown: Evidence from South Africa," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Meng Xuan Zhang & Juliet Honglei Chen & Kwok Kit Tong & Eilo Wing-yat Yu & Anise M. S. Wu, 2021. "Problematic Smartphone Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Its Association with Pandemic-Related and Generalized Beliefs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, May.
    4. Alejandro Salazar & Jenifer Palomo-Osuna & Helena de Sola & Jose A. Moral-Munoz & María Dueñas & Inmaculada Failde, 2021. "Psychological Impact of the Lockdown Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in University Workers: Factors Related to Stress, Anxiety, and Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-16, April.
    5. Angel Yee-lam Li & Chor-lam Chau & Cecilia Cheng, 2019. "Development and Validation of a Parent-Based Program for Preventing Gaming Disorder: The Game Over Intervention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Jan Chodkiewicz & Joanna Miniszewska & Emilia Krajewska & Przemysław Biliński, 2021. "Mental Health during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Polish Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-12, March.
    7. Ruijie Gong & Yinghuan Zhang & Rusi Long & Rui Zhu & Sicong Li & Xinyi Liu & Suping Wang & Yong Cai, 2021. "The Impact of Social Network Site Addiction on Depression in Chinese Medical Students: A Serial Multiple Mediator Model Involving Loneliness and Unmet Interpersonal Needs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-8, August.
    8. Masatoshi Tahara & Yuki Mashizume & Kayoko Takahashi, 2021. "Mental Health Crisis and Stress Coping among Healthcare College Students Momentarily Displaced from Their Campus Community Because of COVID-19 Restrictions in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-12, July.
    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. Alessandro Miola & Stefano Caiolo & Giancarlo Pontoni & Erica Pozzan & Chiara Moriglia & Filippo Simionato & Sergio Garofalo & Giulia Perini & Fabio Sambataro, 2023. "Anxiety and Depression during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Coping Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Oyenubi, Adeola & Kollamparambil, Umakrishnan, 2023. "Does noncompliance with COVID-19 regulations impact the depressive symptoms of others?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    3. Eleonora Marzilli & Luca Cerniglia & Renata Tambelli & Elena Trombini & Leonardo De Pascalis & Alessandra Babore & Carmen Trumello & Silvia Cimino, 2021. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Families’ Mental Health: The Role Played by Parenting Stress, Parents’ Past Trauma, and Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Mateusz Łuc & Marcin Pawłowski & Arkadiusz Jaworski & Karolina Fila-Witecka & Dorota Szcześniak & Hanna Augustyniak-Bartosik & Dorota Zielińska & Aleksandra Stefaniak & Anna Pokryszko-Dragan & Justyna, 2023. "Coping of Chronically-Ill Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparison between Four Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Joshi, Nupur & Lopus, Sara & Hannah, Corrie & Ernst, Kacey C. & Kilungo, Aminata P. & Opiyo, Romanus & Ngayu, Margaret & Davies, Julia & Evans, Tom, 2022. "COVID-19 lockdowns: Employment and business disruptions, water access and hygiene practices in Nairobi's informal settlements," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    6. Michalina Ilska & Anna Kołodziej-Zaleska & Anna Brandt-Salmeri & Heidi Preis & Marci Lobel, 2021. "Pandemic Stress and Its Correlates among Pregnant Women during the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-11, October.
    7. Olivier Phan & Constance Prieur & Céline Bonnaire & Ivana Obradovic, 2019. "Internet Gaming Disorder: Exploring Its Impact on Satisfaction in Life in PELLEAS Adolescent Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-16, December.
    8. Anca Popa & Aurelia-Ioana Chereji & Monica Angelica Dodu & Ioan Chereji & Andreea Fitero & Cristian Marius Daina & Lucia Georgeta Daina & Dana Badau & Daniela Carmen Neculoiu & Carmen Domnariu, 2022. "The Impact of Changes regarding Working Circumstances during COVID-19 Pandemic upon Patients Evaluated for Thyroid Dysfunction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-11, August.
    9. Youlai Zeng & Jiahui Zhang & Jiaxin Wei & Shunyu Li, 2022. "The Impact of Undergraduates’ Social Isolation on Smartphone Addiction: The Roles of Academic Anxiety and Social Media Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, November.
    10. Carlota de Miquel & Joan Domènech-Abella & Mireia Felez-Nobrega & Paula Cristóbal-Narváez & Philippe Mortier & Gemma Vilagut & Jordi Alonso & Beatriz Olaya & Josep Maria Haro, 2022. "The Mental Health of Employees with Job Loss and Income Loss during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Perceived Financial Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-14, March.
    11. Aureliusz Kosendiak & Magdalena Król & Milena Ściskalska & Marta Kepinska, 2021. "The Changes in Stress Coping, Alcohol Use, Cigarette Smoking and Physical Activity during COVID-19 Related Lockdown in Medical Students in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, December.
    12. Freund, Richard & Favara, Marta & Porter, Catherine & Scott, Douglas & Thuc, Duc Le, 2022. "The Mental Cost of Job Loss: Assessing the Impact on Young Adults in Vietnam," IZA Discussion Papers 15522, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Estera Twardowska-Staszek & Irmina Rostek & Krzysztof Biel & Anna Seredyńska, 2021. "Predictors of Positive and Negative Emotions Experienced by Poles during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-15, November.
    14. Mehta, Poonam & Garg, Naval & Gharib, Moaz & Mehak, & Pimpunchat, Busayamas, 2023. "Social support during COVID-19: Exploring the psychometric properties of the PSS-JSAS and its relationship with job search activities," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    15. Matteo Picchio & Michele Ubaldi, 2024. "Unemployment and health: A meta‐analysis," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 1437-1472, September.
    16. Teurai Rwafa-Ponela & Jessica Price & Athini Nyatela & Sizwe Nqakala & Atiya Mosam & Agnes Erzse & Samanta Tresha Lalla-Edward & Jennifer Hove & Kathleen Kahn & Stephen Tollman & Karen Hofman & Susan , 2022. "“We Were Afraid”: Mental Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Two South African Districts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-18, July.
    17. Juri Yamazaki & Masashi Kizuki & Takeo Fujiwara, 2022. "Association between Frequency of Conversations and Suicidal Ideation among Medical Students during COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-9, May.
    18. Phoenix K. H. Mo & Juliet Honglei Chen & Joseph T. F. Lau & Anise M. S. Wu, 2020. "Internet-Related Addictions: From Measurements to Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-4, April.
    19. Lavinia Maria Pop & Magdalena Iorga & Raluca Iurcov, 2022. "Body-Esteem, Self-Esteem and Loneliness among Social Media Young Users," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.
    20. Batara Surya & Hernita Hernita & Agus Salim & Seri Suriani & Iwan Perwira & Yulia Yulia & Muhlis Ruslan & Kafrawi Yunus, 2022. "Travel-Business Stagnation and SME Business Turbulence in the Tourism Sector in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-37, February.

    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:8:p:4621-:d:791783. 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.