The Role of Stress and Cognitive Absorption in Predicting Social Network Addiction

Abstract

Nowadays, the use of social networks (SNs) is pervasive and ubiquitous. Among other things, SNs have become a key resource for establishing and maintaining personal relationships, as further demonstrated by the emergence of the pandemic. However, easy access to SNs may be a source of addictive behaviour, especially among the younger population. The literature highlights various psychological and physiological factors as possible predictors of vulnerability to SN addiction. This paper explores the joint effects of stress level and cognitive absorption, in the form of temporal dissociation while on SNs, on the addiction of university students to SNs. Here, 312 participants were involved in an online survey. About 14% of the sample presented a risk for SN addiction. Moreover, it was found that stress level predicted SN addiction both directly and indirectly through the effect of individual temporal dissociation, as experienced during SN usage. These results suggest a significant role of perceived stress level on addiction risk, while also pointing out additional vulnerability to SN addiction for cognitive profiles that are relatively more prone to temporal dissociation while online.

Childhood trauma and problematic internet use: A meta-analysis based on students in mainland China

“…It can be said that CT belongs to further bio-psychological factors, which is a predisposing factor to the formation of PIU. Since CT groups are more likely to perceive stress ( McLaughlin et al, 2009 ; Edalati et al, 2019 ), this makes CT students unable to perceive the passage of time in the process of using the Internet, resulting in temporal dissociation and cognitive absorption ( Drakulić et al, 2018 ; Cannito et al, 2022 ; Holman et al, 2022 ), thus, the cognitive process changes resulting in dysfunction, impulsivity and other adverse coping styles ( Young et al, 2007 ; Perlman et al, 2016 ; Wang S. et al, 2020 ). Additionally, various factors such as “Internet related cognitive bias” (i.e., happiness or escapism through using the Internet) generated in the process of using the Internet become the moderating variables for forming PIU.…”

“…Maybe their relationship is mediated by the subjects' tendency toward temporal dissociation and cognitive absorption. Due to the fact that individuals who have suffered CT are more likely to perceive stress, which makes it easier to have temporal dissociation easily (perceive time as passing more slowly), and the inability to more accurately perceive the passage of time during a deeply engaged online experience increases the risk of developing PIU (Drakulić et al, 2018;Cannito et al, 2022;Holman et al, 2022). However, some studies have drawn conclusions inconsistently that there was a weak correlation between CT and PIU (Zhang et al, 2012;Jhone et al, 2021).…”

Social Media Overuse and Anxiety among Chinese University Students: The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress

“…Stress refers to a feeling of emotional or physical tension [18]. Previous research has demonstrated that perceived stress is connected with the overuse of social media [19]. This is because while social media usage can result in increased stress levels and negative emotions, it can also be a coping mechanism for managing distress, bringing social support and pleasant feelings to users [20].…”

Face Mask Reduces the Effect of Proposer’s (Un)Trustworthiness on Intertemporal and Risky Choices

“…The COVID-19 pandemic that hit the world in the 2020 has caused drastic changes in our usual habits both on personal (e.g., Cannito et al, 2022 ) and societal level (e.g., Ceccato et al, 2021 ). In order to contain the virus spread, several restraint measures have been introduced, such as avoiding direct contact with other people and wearing masks.…”