Association of Positive, Negative, and Disorganized Schizotypy with Social Media Use and Misuse

Schizotypy is a multidimensional construct that encompasses a spectrum of symptoms and impairments ranging from subclinical to clinical (Kwapil & Barrantes-Vidal, 2015). Schizotypy offers a useful and unifying construct in that it provides a model for understanding the etiology, development, and expression of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (Barrantes-Vidal & Kwapil, 2023). The heterogeneity of schizotypy can be captured in a multidimensional structure that includes positive (psychotic-like), negative (deficit), and disorganized schizotypy dimensions. By conceptualizing schizotypy as a multidimensional, rather than unidimensional construct, we can evaluate differential and hypothesized patterns of associations with symptoms, traits, and impairments to create a more well-rounded picture of schizotypy. Social media refers to digital platforms designed to facilitate communication, interaction, and content sharing between users in online environments (Yang, 2025). Social media use describes how often individuals engage with these platforms, the ways they interact with others, and the psychological involvement associated with activities such as posting content, reacting to posts, commenting, messaging, and following others. In contrast, social media misuse refers to patterns of engagement that become excessive, compulsive, or disruptive to daily functioning. This type of use may involve persistent checking behaviors, emotional dependence on feedback, or difficulty disengaging from online environments. Because these platforms often allow asynchronous communication and highly curated self-presentation, individuals may rely on them as alternatives to face-to-face interaction. In some cases, heavy reliance on online social environments has been associated with patterns such as dissociation, heightened interpretation of social cues, and difficulty separating online interactions from offline experiences, particularly among individuals who may already exhibit traits related to schizotypy. Previous research has examined the relationship between schizotypal traits and problematic technology use, particularly internet addiction. Studies using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) have found significant associations between schizotypy and problematic internet or Facebook use (Fekih-Romdhane, 2022). One study of university students found that specific schizotypal traits, such as introverted anhedonia and impulsive nonconformity, were independently related to higher levels of internet addiction. However, findings have been limited and inconsistent, which may be due to methodological constraints such as reliance on generalized internet addiction measures and limited assessment of schizotypy’s multidimensional structure. Other research suggests that problematic engagement with digital technologies, including internet and social media use, is associated with higher levels of schizotypal traits, with psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, and stress partially mediating this relationship (Fekih‑Romdhane, 2023). These findings highlight the need for research examining social media behaviors using multidimensional measures of schizotypy and platform-specific engagement. The primary goal of this study is to investigate the association of multidimensional schizotypy with patterns of social media use and problematic social media engagement. Specifically, the study will examine how positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy traits relate to overall social media usage, platform engagement, and indicators of problematic or addictive use as measured by the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). By using the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale - Brief (MSS-B), this study aims to capture distinct schizotypy dimensions and determine whether certain traits are more strongly associated with patterns of online behavior. In addition, trait-level paranoia and social anxiety will be examined as related constructs that may also be associated with how individuals engage with social media environments. Because online interactions often involve ambiguous social cues and delayed feedback, individuals with higher levels of paranoia may demonstrate increased monitoring behaviors or heightened sensitivity to perceived social threats. Similarly, individuals with higher levels of social anxiety may rely more heavily on online communication as a substitute for face-to-face interaction while also demonstrating greater emotional sensitivity to social feedback.