Problematic Smartphone Use and Social Media Fatigue: The Mediating Role of Self-Control
Świątek AH, Szcześniak M, Aleksandrowicz B, Zaczkowska D, Wawer W, Ścisłowska M
Psychology research and behavior management · 24 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cross-sectional study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
Based on full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2023-01-01 · Psychol Res Behav Manag · vol. Volume 16 · pp. 211–222
- Publisher
- Dove Medical Press
- Cited
- 60 citations · more than 100% of similar papers · 26.8× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 92 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY-NC
- Research areas
- Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Technostress in Professional Settings · Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Keywords
- smartphone addiction, social media fatigue, self-control, mediation, impulse inhibition, excessive social media use, technostress
6 authors
From PL
- Agata Hiacynta Świątek · correspondingUniversity of Szczecin
- Małgorzata Szczęśniak · correspondingUniversity of Szczecin
- Blanka Aleksandrowicz · correspondingUniversity of Szczecin
- Daria Zaczkowska · correspondingUniversity of Szczecin
- Weronika Wawer · correspondingUniversity of Szczecin
- Małgorzata Ścisłowska · correspondingUniversity of Szczecin
Abstract
Background
Excessive social media consumption leads to addiction and affects mental health. It is a phenomenon that is difficult to avoid. Previous research on the effects of excessive Internet use shows that people who engage in social media (SM) without restraint experience over-involvement, over-disclosure, technostress, and social media fatigue (SMF). SMF, conceptualized as an emotional and cognitive feeling of being overwhelmed, manifests itself in mindless browsing of content, limiting the amount of time spent on SM, or quitting SM altogether. Self-control, although present in the technology addiction literature and psychology research, has been rarely described in relation to both excessive SM use and SMF. Therefore, the main goal of the present study was to verify whether there is a direct relationship between problematic smartphone use and SMF, and whether this association is mediated by self-control.
Methods
The study included 210 respondents (M = 25.85, SD = 9.84) living in different Polish cities. The survey was conducted online, and the respondents consented to participate in the study. They completed the following measures: the Mobile Phone Problematic Use, the Self-Control Scale, the Social Media Fatigue Scale, and a brief questionnaire with socio-demographic data.
Results
Statistical analysis was performed to verify the relationship between problematic mobile phone use, level of self-control, and SMF. The outcomes indicate that there are significant interrelationships between the three studied variables. The association between problematic smartphone use and SMF is mediated by self-control.
Conclusion
A lack of impulse-inhibition skills, such as compulsive checking of notifications, can be a significant factor in SM exhaustion, fatigue, or frustration. SMF can also be understood as a natural defensive response, triggered in situations where individuals are overwhelmed, when the self-control is insufficient to stop the compulsion to use SM, and the use of a smartphone for this purpose is excessively engaging.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY-NC).
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