A narrative Overview About Psychosocial Characteristics as Risk Factors of a Problematic Social Networks Use

AbstractPurpose of ReviewSocial networks use disorder describes the problematic use of social networking sites and online-communication applications. Social characteristic of social networks use emphasizes the special relevance of psychosocial factors and social cognitions in this context. The current review aims at summarizing findings on individual psychosocial characteristics to analyze the relevance of social processes as potential mechanisms of a social networks use disorder.Recent FindingsThe empirical overview illustrates that, aside from psychopathological factors, individual psychosocial characteristics and social cognitions as well as their interactions appear to be relevant risk factors for a problematic use of social networks. However, empirical findings are mixed.SummaryWe propose two hypotheses on the development of a potential social networks use disorder that might account for mixed results: thefear-driven/compensation-seeking hypothesis including compensatory use expectancies and thereward-driven hypothesis including positive use expectancies as key elements, both of which could lead to symptoms of social networks use disorder depending on interindividual differences in predisposing and reinforcing factors.

Source: Current Addiction Reports - October 27, 2019 Category: Addiction Source Type: research