Bidirectional associations of problematic social media use and problematic gaming with mental health difficulties and strengths in adolescents: Sex and social support as potential moderators.

ABSTRACT: The evidence on the direction of associations between mental health and problematic social media use (PSMU) and problematic gaming (PG) in adolescents remains inconclusive. Therefore, this study investigated a comprehensive model of temporal associations between mental health difficulties and strengths, and PSMU/PG, while accounting for sex and perceived social support as potential moderators. Mental health domains were measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, PSMU was measured with the Social Media Disorder Scale, and PG with the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, assessed at two time points (2019, 2021). The analysis sample consisted of 645 Dutch adolescents (63% boys; M_age = 15.8, SD = 0.3, at Time 1) from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development coho

SUBMITTER: Todorovic L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12432349 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature