Predisposing and Motivational Factors Related to Social Network Sites Use: Systematic Review

This study aimed to identify the motives for social media sites use in the general population and determine what personality traits (normal and maladaptive) predict different motives for social media sites use. Another objective was to analyze which motives for SMSs use are related to well-being. The sample consisted of 420 subjects (211 men, 209 women), mean age 40.29 years ( SD =  14.93). Data were gathered using the Big Five Inventory, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form -Adult, the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, and a scale designed ad hoc to evaluate the motives for social media sites use. The results showed that the most frequent motives were Personal relationship maintenance/Search for information, Pastime/Exhibitionism, and Search for companionship. In addition, it was found that normal and, especially, maladaptive personality traits increased the explained variance for the three motives for social media sites use, beyond age and gender. Predictors of relationship initiation and pastime/exhibitionism motives were related to more negative features (e.g., antagonism and disinhibition) than predictors of personal relationship maintenance/search for information. Finally, personal relationship maintenance/search for information was positively related to all the components of well-being, while the other motives for social media sites use were negatively associated with well-being.

Research highlighted that Problematic Social Networking Sites Use (PSNSU) and vulnerable narcissism are associated. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are still unclear. The present study aimed to test the mediating role of motives for social networking sites (SNSs) use between vulnerable narcissism and five symptoms of PSNSU (i.e., preference for online social interactions, mood regulation, cognitive preoccupation, compulsive use, and negative outcomes) in a sole model. Self-report questionnaires were completed by 344 SNSs users in the age range of 18–30 years (76.5% females; mean age = 23.80 years, standard deviation = 2.30 years). Vulnerable narcissism, three motives to use SNSs (coping, conformity, enhancement), and symptoms of PSNSU were assessed. Structural equation modeling was used to test for mediation. The results indicate that both motives with positive (i.e., enhancement) and negative (i.e., coping and conformity) valence partially mediated the association between vulnerable narcissism and different symptoms of PSNSU. We conclude that individuals with vulnerable narcissism may develop PSNSU not only as a compensatory strategy to cope with psychosocial difficulties but also as a result of a gratification-seeking process.

We used an epidemiological study to explore the perception of change in several psychosocial dimensions during the COVID-19 quarantine. We focused on emotions, use of social network sites (SNSs), family life, important relationships, body functions, and school life. Using snowball recruitment, N = 1047 Italian children, pre-adolescents, and adolescents (M = 13.74 ± 3.59) were selected to complete ad hoc online questionnaires. A differential semantic inventory plot was prepared to analyze the emotional experience of children, pre-adolescents, and adolescents during quarantine compared to the pre-quarantine period. The Kruskal–Wallis test was run to assess gender and age differences in emotions experienced, habitual SNS use, and the experience of attending classes remotely. A post hoc Wilcoxon test was performed to compare such differences. Results showed that most of the sample (93.1%) attended classes using technological devices and reported missing their classmates very much (59.3%). Adolescents experienced more negative emotions (M = 3.69 ± 1.33) than pre-adolescents (M = 4.64 ± 1.32), who experienced negative emotions more than children (M = 5.11 ± 1.24). Females were more prone to experience negative emotions compared to males. Adolescents were also the most prolific SNS users (78.1%), particularly female adolescents. Overall, these finding highlight the necessity of preserving the emotional state and relational well-being of youth in these developmental phases by considering their school and social lives.