Craving Facebook? Behavioral addiction to online social networking and its association with emotion regulation deficits

AimsTo assess disordered online social networking use via modified diagnostic criteria for substance dependence, and to examine its association with difficulties with emotion regulation and substance use. DesignCross-sectional survey study targeting undergraduate students. Associations between disordered online social networking use, internet addiction, deficits in emotion regulation and alcohol use problems were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses of covariance. SettingA large University in the Northeastern United States. ParticipantsUndergraduate students (n=253, 62.8% female, 60.9% white, age mean=19.68, standard deviation=2.85), largely representative of the target population. The response rate was 100%. MeasurementsDisordered online social networking use, determined via modified measures of alcohol abuse and dependence, including DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence, the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale and the Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilt, Eye-opener (CAGE) screen, along with the Young Internet Addiction Test, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, White Bear Suppression Inventory and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. FindingsDisordered online social networking use was present in 9.7% [n=23; 95% confidence interval (5.9, 13.4)] of the sample surveyed, and significantly and positively associated with scores on the Young Internet Addiction Test (P<0.001), greater difficulties with emotion regulation (P=0.003) and problem drinking (P=0.03). ConclusionsThe use of online social networking sites is potentially addictive. Modified measures of substance abuse and dependence are suitable in assessing disordered online social networking use. Disordered online social networking use seems to arise as part of a cluster of symptoms of poor emotion regulation skills and heightened susceptibility to both substance and non-substance addiction.