Investigating the Role of Avoidance Expectancies and Metacognitions About Social Compensation Through SNSs in the Pathway From Psychological Distress to Problematic Social Networking Sites Use

Problematic Social Networking Sites Use (PSNSU) develops along differential trajectories depending on different predisposing factors and motivations, one of which involves psychological distress. The present studies aimed at investigating (1) which distress dimension (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress) is more linked to PSNSU, and (2) whether metacognitions about social compensation through social networking sites (SNSs) use and avoidance expectancies mediate these links. Two independent cross-sectional studies were conducted. Study 1 involved 1.637 social networking site users (Mage = 25.07 + 11.70; %Females = 59.9%). Results showed that users who report PSNSU symptoms were more likely to present symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, which accurately classified 83.05% of individuals with PSNSU symptoms. Depression and stress - but not anxiety - significantly predict PSNSU. A small subgroup of individuals with PSNSU symptoms who obtained normal scores on depression, anxiety, and stress scales was also identifiable. Study 2 was conducted to address the second aim. We recruited a new sample of 510 social networking site users (Mage = 32.62 ± 11.83; %Females = 57.5%) and focused on depression and social anxiety as psychological distress dimensions. Through Structural Equation Modeling, we found that depressive symptoms predicted PSNSU directly and indirectly via both metacognitions about social compensation through SNSs use and avoidance expectancies. Social anxiety predicted PSNSU only indirectly. The model explained 68% of the variance in PSNSU levels. These studies show that assessment of psychological distress may require priority when treating clients presenting with PSNSU. Avoidance and metacognitions related to the usefulness of SNSs use for social compensation should be the focus of interventions, especially when it comes to individuals with social anxiety symptoms. Yet, our first study also encourages considering pathways that may be independent of depression and anxiety, as a form of PSNSU unrelated to psychological distress was identified.