Adverse Childhood Experiences and Problematic Social Media Use: Longitudinal Evidence Among Chinese Adolescents

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Adolescent Health
• Digital Media Studies

Background:

• Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to problematic social media use (PSMU) in adolescents.
• Longitudinal associations and the functional nature between ACEs and PSMU require further investigation.
• Theories like Compensatory Internet Use and Cumulative Risk Hypothesis provide frameworks for understanding this relationship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the longitudinal association between ACEs and PSMU in adolescents.
• To investigate the cumulative effects of ACEs on PSMU.
• To test the functional relation between ACEs and PSMU using a three-wave longitudinal design.

Main Methods:

• A three-wave longitudinal study involving 264 Chinese adolescents and 234 parents.
• Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were used to analyze adolescent-reported and parent-reported PSMU.
• Data collection included multiple informant assessments of adolescent PSMU.

Main Results:

• ACEs significantly predicted adolescent-reported PSMU (b=0.17, p<0.01).
• The relationship between cumulative ACEs and PSMU was linear, regardless of reporting source (adolescent or parent).
• Findings support the Cumulative Risk Hypothesis, particularly the additive (linear) model.

Conclusions:

• Early exposure to ACEs is a predictor of subsequent adolescent PSMU.
• The functional relationship between cumulative ACEs and PSMU is linear.
• Intervention and prevention efforts should address each individual ACE to mitigate adolescent PSMU.