Risk factors for the social networking sites addiction: a systematic review
Background: In the last decade, the use of social network sites (SNS) has increased exponentially worldwide becoming an important leisure activity in society. Its extended use as well as its wide accessibility has been found to be a trigger for various mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, but more specifically for the development of SNS addiction. The aim of this systematic review is to analyse the different risk factors associated to SNS addiction.
Methods: A descriptive systematic review was undertaken following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The studies included peer-review papers focusing on risk or protective factors for SNS addiction published between 1st May 2010 to 30th April 2020 and indexed in PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science or Scopus databases. Using the software Rayyan QCRI, three researchers examined 10329 unique titles and abstracts of identified studies to exclude those which did not meet the criteria. Two reviewers independently assessed 183 full texts of potentially relevant studies to consider their eligibility of inclusion. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools of the University of the Adelaide.
Results: 40 papers were included, collectively exploring 127 distinct risk factors. Sociodemographic factors and the big five personality traits emerged as the most extensively studied risk factors. Gender and neuroticism surfaced as the most consistent risk factors, with coefficients ranging from 0.10 to 1.16 for gender and 0.11 to 0.26 for neuroticism. Notably, the other four personality traits predominantly exhibited a protective role against SNS addiction. Additional risk factors were primarily linked to individual characteristics, including the presence of psychological disorders, personality disorders, or the patterns of SNS usage.
Conclusion: While numerous studies have studied the impact of individual characteristics on the development of SNS addiction, there exists a notable gap in research focusing on socioeconomic or environmental factors from a public health perspective. Addressing this gap is crucial for a more comprehensive understanding of SNS addiction and could inform strategies and interventions on a broader scale.
