| Title |
The patterns of problematic social media use (SMU) and their relationship with online flow, life satisfaction, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in Lithuania and in Germany / |
| Authors |
Brailovskaia, Julia ; Truskauskaitė-Kunevičienė, Inga ; Kazlauskas, Evaldas ; Margraf, Jurgen |
| DOI |
10.1007/s12144-021-01711-w |
| Full Text |
|
| Is Part of |
Current psychology.. New York : Springer. 2023, vol. 42, p. 3713-3724.. ISSN 1046-1310. eISSN 1936-4733 |
| Keywords [eng] |
Problematic social media use ; Flow experience ; Depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms ; Life satisfaction ; Lithuania ; Germany |
| Abstract [eng] |
The present study investigated problematic social media use (SMU) in Lithuania and in Germany. In two student samples (Lithuania: N = 1640; Germany: N = 727), problematic SMU, flow experienced during SMU, life satisfaction, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were assessed by online surveys. Latent Class Analysis resulted in a four-group classification of participants due to their levels of problematic SMU characteristics: low-symptom, low-withdrawal, high-withdrawal, and high-symptom. The proportion of participants in the low-symptom group was significantly higher in Germany than in Lithuania. In contrast, significantly more Lithuanian participants belonged to both withdrawal groups. No significant country differences were found for the composition of the high-symptom group. In both countries, a series of Structural Equation Models showed that the level of flow, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms was the highest in the high-symptom group, and the lowest in the low-symptom group. Life satisfaction revealed the reversed result pattern. The current findings show that students from Lithuania and Germany can be grouped considering their problematic SMU level. Individuals in the four groups differ due to their level of mental health. Especially members of the high-symptom group might benefit from external controlling strategies of their time spent on SM, while members of the withdrawal groups are suggested to train their SMU self-control. |
| Published |
New York : Springer |
| Type |
Journal article |
| Language |
English |
| Publication date |
2023 |
| CC license |
|
