Anxiety, depression and stress as explanatory factors of problematic use of social networks in high school students
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The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between problematic social media use and levels of anxiety, depression, and stress among adolescent students. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Problematic Use of Social Media Questionnaire were administered to a sample of 1,164 students from Compulsory Secondary Education and the first year of Baccalaureate programs (M = 14.56; SD = 1.40). The data revealed positive and statistically significant correlations between problematic social media use and the variables of anxiety, depression, and stress. Furthermore, students classified as having high levels of problematic social media use reported significantly higher mean scores in anxiety, depression, and stress compared to those with moderate or low use. Additionally, the likelihood of exhibiting high problematic use increased by 1.18, 1.26, and 1.25 times for each one-unit increase in anxiety, depression, and stress, respectively. These findings underscore the need for preventive and intervention strategies targeting emotional difficulties among adolescents with problematic social media use.
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