ArticleJMIR formative research2026
Emotional and Psychosocial Correlates of Problematic Social Media Use Among Adults: Cross-Sectional Study.
Article in JMIR formative research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundSocial media platforms have become integral to daily life, particularly among younger users. While they offer opportunities for connection, they also introduce new psychological stressors. Prior research has often relied on simplistic metrics such as screen time, failing to capture complex emotional and behavioral dimensions of digital engagement. There is a growing need to understand how design features and user experiences contribute to problematic social media use (PSMU), especially in adult populations.
objectiveThis study aims to assess the psychosocial dimensions of social media use and their associations with problematic use in an adult population, with particular attention to emotional fatigue, avoidance, and interface-induced stress.
methodsA cross-sectional online survey was completed by 402 participants, of whom 393 completed the entire questionnaire (response rate 97.8%). Recruitment was conducted through targeted advertisements on major social media platforms. Participants self-reported demographic information and completed a modified version of the CAGE-AID (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener-Adapted to Include Drugs) screener, adapted to detect PSMU. They also responded to 49 Likert scale items measuring 7 thematic psychosocial dimensions: empathic fatigue, silent stressors, identity fragmentation, pressure for visibility, algorithmic influence, digital detox behaviors, and nostalgia-linked affective responses. Descriptive and correlational statistics were used to analyze data. CAGE-AID positivity was defined as 1 or more affirmative responses.
resultsAmong 393 respondents (mean age 32.7, SD 10.8 years; 257/393, 65.4% women), younger age was significantly associated with PSMU as measured by modified CAGE-AID positivity (χ²
conclusionsPSMU in adults is closely tied to emotional fatigue, interface-related stress, and avoidance. Younger users appear particularly susceptible to emotional saturation and compulsive engagement. These findings highlight the need to consider psychological and design-related mechanisms in public health responses to digital overuse. Interventions should move beyond screen time to address emotional reactivity and structural stressors embedded in platform design.
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