Psychological risk factors for problematic social network use: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Problematic Social Network Use (PSNU) is a widespread and harmful public health issue. Therefore, it is unsurprising that the literature has focused on identifying possible risk factors contributing to this behavior. However, most identified factors were found to be shared with other problematic onl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Addictive Behaviors Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853225000185 |
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| author | Giulia Fioravanti Sara Bocci Benucci Simon Ghinassi |
| author_facet | Giulia Fioravanti Sara Bocci Benucci Simon Ghinassi |
| author_sort | Giulia Fioravanti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Problematic Social Network Use (PSNU) is a widespread and harmful public health issue. Therefore, it is unsurprising that the literature has focused on identifying possible risk factors contributing to this behavior. However, most identified factors were found to be shared with other problematic online behaviors. Therefore, the present overview aims to identify the psychological risk factors consistently associated with PSNU and evaluate whether the emerging risk factors were shared across Internet Gaming Disorder, Problematic Pornography Use, and Compulsive Online Shopping. A systematic search of four databases was conducted to identify systematic reviews/meta-analyses investigating the relationship between PSNU and psychological risk factors. Then, a bibliometric analysis was performed to examine whether the identified factors were shared across other problematic online behaviors. Thirty-five systematic reviews/meta-analyses were included, examining general and behavior-specific predisposing factors. General predisposing factors associated with PSNU included insecure attachment, high neuroticism, low conscientiousness, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, stress, social anxiety, loneliness, and fear of missing out. Behavior-specific factors, though less frequently studied, highlighted the role of unmet psychological needs, Preference for Online Social Interaction, and motives related to emotion regulation and socialization. The bibliometric analysis revealed that many risk factors for PSNSU are shared with other problematic online behaviors. However, certain specificities emerged, including distinct motivations driving these behaviors. Findings suggest that PSNU shares a spectrum of risk factors with other problematic online behaviors, yet specific etiological and motivational differences remain. Overall, the findings underscore integrating shared and specific risk factors to improve tailored prevention and intervention strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1e17f185f5d94e789f30a8e67c3a844b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2352-8532 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Addictive Behaviors Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-1e17f185f5d94e789f30a8e67c3a844b2025-08-20T03:19:56ZengElsevierAddictive Behaviors Reports2352-85322025-06-012110060010.1016/j.abrep.2025.100600Psychological risk factors for problematic social network use: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analysesGiulia Fioravanti0Sara Bocci Benucci1Simon Ghinassi2Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, via di San Salvi 12, 50135 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50100 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50100 Florence, Italy; Corresponding author.Problematic Social Network Use (PSNU) is a widespread and harmful public health issue. Therefore, it is unsurprising that the literature has focused on identifying possible risk factors contributing to this behavior. However, most identified factors were found to be shared with other problematic online behaviors. Therefore, the present overview aims to identify the psychological risk factors consistently associated with PSNU and evaluate whether the emerging risk factors were shared across Internet Gaming Disorder, Problematic Pornography Use, and Compulsive Online Shopping. A systematic search of four databases was conducted to identify systematic reviews/meta-analyses investigating the relationship between PSNU and psychological risk factors. Then, a bibliometric analysis was performed to examine whether the identified factors were shared across other problematic online behaviors. Thirty-five systematic reviews/meta-analyses were included, examining general and behavior-specific predisposing factors. General predisposing factors associated with PSNU included insecure attachment, high neuroticism, low conscientiousness, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, stress, social anxiety, loneliness, and fear of missing out. Behavior-specific factors, though less frequently studied, highlighted the role of unmet psychological needs, Preference for Online Social Interaction, and motives related to emotion regulation and socialization. The bibliometric analysis revealed that many risk factors for PSNSU are shared with other problematic online behaviors. However, certain specificities emerged, including distinct motivations driving these behaviors. Findings suggest that PSNU shares a spectrum of risk factors with other problematic online behaviors, yet specific etiological and motivational differences remain. Overall, the findings underscore integrating shared and specific risk factors to improve tailored prevention and intervention strategies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853225000185Problematic Social Network UsePsychological risk factorsSystematic reviewsMeta-analyses |
| spellingShingle | Giulia Fioravanti Sara Bocci Benucci Simon Ghinassi Psychological risk factors for problematic social network use: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses Addictive Behaviors Reports Problematic Social Network Use Psychological risk factors Systematic reviews Meta-analyses |
| title | Psychological risk factors for problematic social network use: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses |
| title_full | Psychological risk factors for problematic social network use: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses |
| title_fullStr | Psychological risk factors for problematic social network use: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychological risk factors for problematic social network use: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses |
| title_short | Psychological risk factors for problematic social network use: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses |
| title_sort | psychological risk factors for problematic social network use an overview of systematic reviews and meta analyses |
| topic | Problematic Social Network Use Psychological risk factors Systematic reviews Meta-analyses |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853225000185 |
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