Core vs. peripheral: Exploring social media overvaluation and problematic use in a longitudinal adolescent study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Digital Media Studies
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Overvaluation of the Relative Utility of Social Media (ORUSM) drives Problematic Social Media Use (PSMU).
• PSMU is associated with adverse mental health outcomes.
• The Plan-net 25 scale measures ORUSM but requires longitudinal validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the temporal stability and longitudinal invariance of the Plan-net 25 scale.
• To examine the associations between ORUSM, PSMU criteria (core and peripheral), and mental health indicators in adolescents.
• To differentiate the impact of core versus peripheral PSMU criteria on well-being.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study with 294 adolescents (14-20 years old) over six weeks.
• Administered measures of ORUSM (Plan-net 25), PSMU, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and life satisfaction.
• Statistical analysis to assess temporal stability, longitudinal invariance, and correlations.

Main Results:

• The Plan-net 25 demonstrated low to moderate temporal stability and longitudinal invariance.
• ORUSM domains (emotional regulation, social expression, boredom management) correlated positively with both core and peripheral PSMU criteria.
• Core PSMU criteria predicted poorer mental health, while peripheral criteria correlated with higher life satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• The Plan-net 25 is a potentially useful tool for measuring ORUSM longitudinally.
• Distinguishing between core and peripheral PSMU criteria is essential for understanding its relationship with adolescent mental health.
• Interventions targeting ORUSM may help mitigate problematic social media use and improve adolescent well-being.