A study published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction has revealed a compelling link between social media addiction and psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, and mindfulness. The findings provide new insights into how these factors interact to influence addictive behaviours tied to social media use, particularly through the role of metacognitive beliefs – an individual’s thoughts about their own thought processes.
The research, conducted with a sample of 810 Australian adults aged 66 on average, highlights how metacognitions can shape and perpetuate problematic social media habits. Positive metacognitions, such as believing that social media helps to manage negative emotions or improve mood, were found to play a key role in initiating excessive use. But as usage patterns developed, negative metacognitions emerged, with individuals reporting difficulties in controlling their usage or perceiving social media as interfering with their daily functioning. These negative beliefs were shown to reinforce addiction, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.
The study also examined the influence of key psychological vulnerabilities, such as depression and anxiety, on social media addiction. Researchers found that these conditions not only directly contributed to higher levels of addictive behaviours but also did so indirectly by shaping metacognitions. For example, individuals experiencing loneliness or a fear of missing out (FoMO) were more likely to view social media as a coping mechanism, which could lead to long-term dependency. Additionally, low mindfulness – a trait reflecting the ability to remain present and non-judgemental—was strongly associated with higher levels of social media addiction.
Interestingly, the study demonstrated that both positive and negative metacognitions could independently predict the severity of social media addiction. Even after accounting for factors such as age, sex, and social media engagement levels, these metacognitions explained a significant proportion of the variance in addiction. Negative metacognitions, in particular, were found to have a stronger predictive value than positive ones, underscoring their critical role in the progression of addiction.
The study draws on two theoretical models, the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model and the Self-Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) model, to explain the development of social media addiction. Both models suggest that addictive behaviours are reinforced by a maladaptive coping style, in which individuals use social media to alleviate negative emotional states. Over time, this reliance strengthens both positive and negative metacognitive beliefs, creating a reinforcing cycle that makes disengagement increasingly difficult.
One of the most striking aspects of the research was its focus on older adults, a demographic often overlooked in studies of social media addiction. While much of the existing literature centres on adolescents and young adults, this study suggests that older individuals may also experience significant vulnerabilities. The findings indicate that factors such as loneliness and low mindfulness may play an equally important role across age groups, challenging the perception that social media addiction is confined to younger populations.
