The moderating effect of deficient self-regulation in developing social media dependence during COVID-19
Year: 2022
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Based on the stressor-strain-outcome framework, this research suggests that deficient self-regulation plays an essential role in developing dependence on social media use, especially during the pandemic crisis. Social overload and technology overload are stressors that induce strain in psychological fatigue, which can further lead to social media dependence. A sample of 373 participants, mainly from Portugal, participated in the study. The results provide evidence that contrarily to previous studies, being overloaded by social media does not force discontinuance use and according to previous literature review, deficient self-regulation and dependence are different concepts. Deficient selfregulation is an important moderator factor in developing dependence and should not go unnoticed. The less people have control over their social media usage, the more people will become social media dependent, especially when they are limited by the rules imposed by the mandatory confinement. The study provides theoretical and practical implications concerning the effects of stressors and strains on social media dependence during the confinement period.
Author: Figueiredo, Andreia Baulane Cândido de
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6992845455