Mechanisms that link circadian preference to problematic smartphone and social media use in young adults.

ABSTRACT: Evening-types are at higher risk of problematic smartphone use and addiction to social media, but little is known about the possible mediating factors. Given the rising prevalence and broad negative impacts of smartphone and social media addiction, these factors require identification. Young adults (N = 407) aged 18-25, with an average age of 19.8 years, completed a battery of validated measures online. We tested mental health (anxiety and depression symptoms), loneliness, and poorer sleep quality as potential mediators in the relationships between eveningness and problematic smartphone use and social media addiction. As expected, evening types had higher prevalence of problematic smartphone use and social media addiction. Eveningness was also associated with higher anxiety and depression

SUBMITTER: Wallinheimo AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12431251 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature