Who is more inclined to reduce social media addictive tendency behaviors? Explanations based on sex and proactive personality

This study examines individual differences between the relationship between social media addiction tendencies and the intention to reduce social media use from the perspectives of sex and proactive personality. Data from 365 college students' social media users measured twice (two weeks apart) were empirically examined. The results showed that (1) social media addiction tendencies significantly and positively predicted the intention to reduce social media use; (2) the predictive effect was more significant in male students compared to female students; (3) the positive predictive influence of social media addiction tendencies on the intention to reduce social media use was significantly moderated by proactive personality, manifesting prominently in individuals possessing high levels of proactive personality, yet not in those with low levels of proactive personality. These results can help to increase the motivation of college students to reduce social media addictive tendency behaviors and further promote the improvement of social media addictive tendency behaviors.

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Publication Details

Journal
Acta Psychologica
Published
2025-04-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104989
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
4.20
Controls
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article

Who is more inclined to reduce social media addictive tendency behaviors? Explanations based on sex and proactive personality

Yangang Nie, Jian Mao, Jiarong Chen, Jiajie He et al.
1 citations
Acta Psychologica
Impact of Technology on Adolescents
4.20
article

Who is more inclined to reduce social media addictive tendency behaviors? Explanations based on sex and proactive personality

Yangang Nie, Jian Mao, Jiarong Chen, Jiajie He, Pei Chen
article en
1 citations

Abstract

This study examines individual differences between the relationship between social media addiction tendencies and the intention to reduce social media use from the perspectives of sex and proactive personality. Data from 365 college students' social media users measured twice (two weeks apart) were empirically examined. The results showed that (1) social media addiction tendencies significantly and positively predicted the intention to reduce social media use; (2) the predictive effect was more significant in male students compared to female students; (3) the positive predictive influence of social media addiction tendencies on the intention to reduce social media use was significantly moderated by proactive personality, manifesting prominently in individuals possessing high levels of proactive personality, yet not in those with low levels of proactive personality. These results can help to increase the motivation of college students to reduce social media addictive tendency behaviors and further promote the improvement of social media addictive tendency behaviors.

Acta PsychologicaVol. 256
South China Normal University (CN), Guangzhou University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Impact of Technology on Adolescents
4.20
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