Relationship between online social support and problematic internet use: a three-level meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Internet Studies
• Public Health

Background:

• Online social support (OSS) offers benefits like increased life satisfaction but may foster problematic internet usage (PIU).
• Existing research suggests a positive correlation between OSS and PIU, necessitating further investigation.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for mental health and digital well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a three-level meta-analysis examining the correlation between OSS and PIU.
• To identify moderators influencing the OSS-PIU relationship and explain research heterogeneity.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for mitigating PIU risks associated with OSS.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search identified 26 studies for meta-analysis.
• Included 23,396 participants and 44 effect sizes.
• Employed a three-level meta-analysis to assess the OSS-PIU association and moderator effects.

Main Results:

• A significant positive association was found between online social support (OSS) and problematic internet usage (PIU).
• Moderator analyses indicated that the measurement methods for both OSS and PIU significantly influenced the observed association.
• The strength of the relationship varied based on how OSS and PIU were operationalized in the studies.

Conclusions:

• Awareness of the risks associated with excessive OSS is essential.
• Proactively developing offline social networks can create a more resilient support system.
• Balancing virtual and real-world social interactions may reduce the likelihood of problematic internet usage.