Neurobiological and psychosocial correlates of problematic social media use: an addiction framework

Background Problematic social media use (PSMU) is characterized by maladaptive behaviors and symptoms paralleling addiction. Despite rising prevalence, PSMU lacks formal diagnostic criteria, underscoring the need to investigate its underpinnings. The present study aimed to investigate both psychosocial and neurobiological features that underpin the six characteristics of PSMU (i.e. conflict, mood modifications, relapse, salience, tolerance, withdrawal).Methods A battery of psychometric scales and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan were administered to 79 individuals (n = 55 female) aged 15-35 years. One psychosocial PCA included mental health symptoms and eight social media behaviors. A second neurobiological PCA included the volume of six brain regions involved in reward. Principal components explaining the most variance (eigenvalue > 1) were extracted for regression analyses with total PSMU and the six characteristics.Results Psychosocial component one, which reflected negative mental health, was significantly associated (p