Modeling of variables related to problematic internet usage and problematic social media usage in adolescents

Abstract

Depending on technological developments, the use of Internet and social media has become an important component of everyday life. This component showed perhaps its greatest effect on adolescents and their communication patterns. When the characteristics of adolescents' developmental period and their developmental tasks are taken into account, it is noteworthy that they constitute a significant risk group in terms of problematic Internet use and problematic social media usage. In this framework, it is primarily necessary to examine adolescents' problematic social media usage, since as said; they are seen as a risk group in terms of Internet usage. Secondly, problematic Internet usage behaviors need to be analyzed and their correlations with various variables need to be revealed. The objective of the present study is to examine the relationship between adolescents' problematic social media usage and duration of social media usage, social anxiety, self-regulation, academic procrastination, problematic Internet usage. The study group consists of 451 adolescents, who are 8th grade middle school and 9th, 10th and 11th grade high school students. Relational screening model was used in this study. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Research results showed that there was a significant relationship between problematic social media usage and social anxiety, self-regulation and academic procrastination. However, neither the duration of social media usage nor the problematic use of the Internet showed a significant relationship with problematic social media usage. Research results were discussed within the context of the effect of problematic social media usage on individuals themselves and their learning environments. Suggestions were made accordingly.