Advancing the understanding of problematic social media use: a psychometric and process-based perspective

• Autores: Víctor Ciudad Fernández
• Directores de la Tesis: Rosa María Baños Rivera (dir. tes.), Tamara Escrivá-Martínez (codir. tes.)
• Lectura: En la Universitat de València ( España ) en 2025
• Idioma: inglés
• Número de páginas: 351
• Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Susana Jiménez Murcia (presid.), Jesús Castro Calvo (secret.), Pierre Maurage (voc.)
• Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Investigación en Psicología por la Universitat de València (Estudi General)
• Menciones:
  • Internacional
• Calificación: Sobresaliente Cum Laude
• Materias:
  • Psicología
• Enlaces
  • Tesis en acceso abierto en: RODERIC
• Resumen

  • This doctoral thesis investigates problematic social media use (PSMU) among Spanish adolescents. Specifically, it explores a psychological mechanism that may contribute to the onset and development of PSMU, as well as the diagnostic criteria that define this construct. Traditionally, PSMU has been conceptualized as a unidimensional construct comprising six diagnostic criteria adapted from substance addiction models (Griffiths, 2005; Andreassen et al., 2016). However, recent studies suggest that two of these criteria, salience and tolerance, may be less central (Billieux et al., 2019; Fournier et al., 2023, 2024; Marengo et al., 2024). These indicators are considered peripheral, as they reflect high engagement rather than truly problematic use. In contrast, the remaining criteria (relapse, withdrawal, mood modification, and conflict) are consistently identified in the literature as core components of PSMU. In recent decades, research on behavioral addictions has been predominantly symptom-based, often overlooking the underlying mechanisms that trigger, maintain, and exacerbate these behaviors, focusing solely on the features of the disorder. The structure of this doctoral thesis is as follows. Chapter 1 provides a comprehensive review of the historical evolution of behavioral addictions, with a particular focus on PSMU. It also contrasts symptom-based and process-based approaches in psychology, applied to both behavioral addictions and PSMU. Chapters 2 through 5 present four independent empirical studies. Together, these studies enhance the understanding of PSMU by combining symptom- and process-based approaches. Each chapter follows the structure of a scientific article: abstract, keywords, introduction, method, results, discussion, and references. Chapter 2 uses qualitative methodology to identify the most salient features of PSMU and introduces the concept of Overvaluation of the Relative Utility of Social Media (ORUSM) as a key mechanism in its development and maintenance. The results suggest that the tolerance criterion does not adequately discriminate between problematic and non-problematic users. Adolescents also identified several key domains of ORUSM, particularly highlighting social interaction and emotional regulation (for both positive and negative emotions). Chapter 3 focuses on the development and validation of the Plan-net 25 scale, a psychometric tool that measures ORUSM across the previously identified domains. The scale was validated in a large sample of adolescents, showing good model fit with a structure of seven correlated latent factors. Moreover, it demonstrated measurement and structural invariance across various demographic variables. Moderate associations were also found with PSMU, as well as with indicators of psychological well-being and distress. Chapter 4 examines the factorial structure of the two most commonly used scales to assess PSMU, the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Social Media Disorder Scale, and evaluates the convergent validity of the best-fitting latent structures. The results indicate that two-factor models, which distinguish between core and peripheral criteria, provide a better fit than traditional unidimensional models for both scales, with convergent validity supporting this distinction. Chapter 5 is a longitudinal study that builds on the work presented in the previous chapters. It assesses the longitudinal invariance and test-retest reliability of the Plan-net 25 scale. Additionally, it tests a predictive model linking ORUSM domains to core and peripheral PSMU criteria, and explores how these criteria relate to psychological well-being and distress six weeks later. The results showed high test-retest reliability and longitudinal invariance for the seven-factor structure. Notably, the peripheral factor of the BSMAS (measured through salience and tolerance) was only positively associated with life satisfaction after six weeks. In contrast, the core factor (measured through relapse, withdrawal, conflict, and mood modification) was positively associated with life satisfaction and negatively associated with loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Chapter 6 provides a general discussion, presenting a summary of the results as well as the strengths, limitations, and theoretical and clinical implications of the four studies. It also outlines future research directions and the overall conclusions of the thesis. Chapter 7 includes a final summary of the doctoral thesis in Valencian, the official language of the University of Valencia. In conclusion, this doctoral thesis employs diverse statistical techniques, methodologies, and research designs to address its research questions from multiple scientific perspectives. Its findings offer innovative contributions that pave the way toward a more accurate assessment of PSMU and highlight a key mechanism in its development and maintenance: the overvaluation of the relative utility of social media.