Personality Correlates of Problem Users of Social Networks: A Review of Modern Foreign Research

15

Abstract

Problematic social media users suffer from many forms of psychological distress. This circumstance motivated the search for relevant publications on the stated topic. This review includes results identified primarily by foreign researchers, since they have accumulated a significant amount of information that deserves attention of domestic psychologists. Positive relationships found abroad among problem users of social networks with cyberbullying, victimization, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism are presented. The significance of the conducted research for the theory lies in revealing the essence of the problematic use of social networks. It is expected that the results of this study will contribute to the activation of similar studies in the Russian-speaking environment. The practical significance of the connections found among problem users of social networks with manifestations of psychological ill-being is that the results obtained are useful to be used to prevent the formation of addiction to social networks in young people.

General Information

Keywords: problematic use of social networks, psychological distress, cyberbullying, victimization, Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy

Journal rubric: General Psychology

Article type: review article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2025140103

Received: 30.10.2023

Accepted:

For citation: Sheinov V.P. Personality Correlates of Problem Users of Social Networks: A Review of Modern Foreign Research [Elektronnyi resurs]. Sovremennaia zarubezhnaia psikhologiia = Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology, 2025. Vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 26–35. DOI: 10.17759/jmfp.2025140103. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

References

  1. Filippou O.Yu. Bibliometricheskii analiz ponyatiya makiavellizma v zarubezhnoi i otechestvennoi psikhologii [A bibliometric analysis of the Machiavellianism in domestic and foreign psychology]. Sovremennaya Zarubezhnaya Psikhologiya = Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology, 2020. Vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 120—128. DOI:10.17759/jmfp.2020090411 (In Russ.).
  2. Sheinov V.P., Dziavitsyn A.S. Vzaimosvyazi zavisimosti ot sotsial'nykh setei s psikhicheskimi sostoyaniyami i svoistvami ee zhertv [Relationship Between Social Media Dependence And Various Personality Traits And States]. Gertsenovskie chteniya: Psikhologicheskie issledovaniya v obrazovanii = The Herzen University Studies: Psychology in Education, 2021. no. 4, pp. 566—573. DOI:10.33910/herzenpsyconf-2021-4-71 (In Russ.).
  3. Sheinov V.P., Dziavitsyn A.S. Vzaimosvyaz' zavisimosti ot sotsial'nykh setei i priznakov psikhologicheskogo neblagopoluchiya [Relationship of Social Media Dependence with Psychological Adverse]. Institut psikhologii Rossiiskoi akademii nauk. Sotsial'naya i ekonomicheskaya psikhologiya = Institute of Psychology Russian Academy of Sciences. Social and Economic Psychology, 2022. Vol. 7, no. 2(26), pp. 83—106. DOI:10.38098/ipran.sep_2022_26_2_04 (In Russ.).
  4. Sheinov V.P., Tarelkin A.I. Vzaimosvyazi zavisimosti studentov ot sotsial'nykh setei s psikhologicheskim neblagopoluchiem [Relationships Between Students’ Addiction to Social Networks and Psychological Distress]. Psikhologiya cheloveka v obrazovanii = Psychology in Education, 2022. Vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 188—204. DOI:10.33910/2686-9527-2022-4-2-188-204 (In Russ.).
  5. Boer M., Van Den Eijnden R., Boniel-Nissim M. et al. Adolescents' Intense and Problematic Social Media Use and Their Well-Being in 29 Countries. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2020. Vol. 66, no. 6, pp. S89—S99. DOI:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.02.014
  6. Fineberg N.A., Menchón J.M., Hall N. et al. Advances in problematic usage of the internet research — A narrative review by experts from the European network for problematic usage of the internet. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 2022. Vol. 118, article ID 152346. 24 p. DOI:10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152346
  7. Aksoy M.E. A Qualitative Study on the Reasons for Social Media Addiction. European Journal of Educational Research, 2018. Vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 861—865. DOI:10.12973/eu-jer.7.4.861
  8. Barry C.T., Briggs S.M., Sidoti C.L. Adolescent and Parent Reports of Aggression and Victimization on Social Media: Associations with Psychosocial Adjustment. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2019. Vol. 28, pp. 2286—2296. DOI:10.1007/s10826-019-01445-1
  9. Block J.J. Issues for DSM-V: Internet addiction. American Journal of Psychiatry, 2008. Vol. 165, no. 3, pp. 306—307. DOI:10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07101556
  10. Casale S., Banchi V. Narcissism and problematic social media use: A systematic literature review. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 2020. Vol. 11, article ID 100252. 10 p. DOI:10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100252
  11. Kircaburun K., Demetrovics Z., Király O., Griffiths M.D. Childhood Emotional Trauma and Cyberbullying Perpetration Among Emerging Adults: A Multiple Mediation Model of the Role of Problematic Social Media Use and Psychopathology. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 2020. Vol. 18, pp. 548—566. DOI:10.1007/s11469-018-9941-5
  12. Huang J., Zhong Z., Zhang H., Li L. Cyberbullying in social media and online games among Chinese college students and its associated factors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021. Vol. 18(9), article ID 4819. 12 p. DOI:10.3390/ijerph18094819
  13. Oksanen A., Oksa R., Savela N., Kaakinen M., Ellonen N. Cyberbullying victimization at work: Social media identity bubble approach. Computers in Human Behavior, 2020. Vol. 109, article ID 106363. DOI:10.1016/j.chb.2020.106363
  14. Ekşi H., Turgut T., Sevim E. The mediating role of general procrastination behaviors in the relationship between self-control and social media addiction in university students. Addicta: The Turkish Journal on Addictions, 2019. Vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 715—743. DOI:10.15805/addicta.2019.6.3.0069
  15. Erdoğdu M., Koçyiğit M. The Correlation between Social Media Use and Cyber Victimization: A Research on Generation Z in Turkey. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, 2021. Vol. 61, pp. 101—125. DOI:10.26650/CONNECTIST2021-817567
  16. Griffiths M., Lopez-Fernandez O., Throuvala M., Pontes H.M., Kuss D.J. Excessive and problematic use of social media in adolescence: A brief overview. 2018. 8 p. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.11280.71682
  17. Longobardi C., Settanni M., Fabris M.A., Marengo D. Follow or be followed: Exploring the links between Instagram popularity, social media addiction, cyber victimization, and subjective happiness in Italian adolescents. Children and Youth Services Review, 2020. Vol. 113, article ID 104955. DOI:10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104955
  18. Giordano A.L., Prosek E.A., Watson J.C. Understanding adolescent cyberbullies: exploring social media addiction and psychological factors. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, 2021. Vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 42—55. DOI:10.1080/23727810.2020.1835420
  19. Peláez-Fernández M.A., Chamizo-Nieto M.T., Rey L., Extremera N. How do cyber victimization and low core self-evaluations interrelate in predicting adolescent problematic technology use? International journal of environmental research and public health, 2021. Vol. 18(6), article ID 3114. 12 p. DOI:10.3390/ijerph18063114
  20. Hussain Z., Wegmann E., Griffiths M.D. The association between problematic social networking site use, dark triad traits, and emotion dysregulation. BMC Psychology, 2021. Vol. 9, article ID 160. 13 p. DOI:10.1186/s40359-021-00668-6
  21. Ildirim E., Çalici C., Erdoğan B. Psychological correlates of cyberbullying and cyber-victimization. International Journal of Human and Behavioral Science, 2017. Vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 7—21. DOI:10.19148/ijhbs.365829
  22. Jain S., Agrawal S. Perceived vulnerability of cyberbullying on social networking sites: effects of security measures, addiction and self-disclosure. Indian Growth and Development Review, 2021. Vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 149—171. DOI:10.1108/IGDR-10-2019-0110
  23. Kircaburun K., Jonason P.K., Griffiths M.D. The Dark Tetrad traits and problematic social media use: The mediating role of cyberbullying and cyberstalking. Personality and Individual Differences, 2018. Vol. 135, pp. 264—269. DOI:10.1016/j.paid.2018.07.034
  24. Kuss D.J., Griffiths M.D. Online social networking and addiction — a review of the psychological literature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2011. Vol. 8(9), pp. 3528—3552. DOI:10.3390/ijerph8093528
  25. Lee S.L., Lim S.X. Predicting internet addiction with the dark triad: Beyond the five-factor model. Psychology of Popular Media, 2021. Vol. 10(3), pp. 362—371. DOI:10.1037/ppm0000336
  26. Marttila E., Koivula A., Räsänen P. Cybercrime Victimization and Problematic Social Media Use: Findings from a Nationally Representative Panel Study. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 2021. Vol. 46, pp. 862—881. DOI:10.1007/s12103-021-09665-2
  27. Kumpasoğlu G.B., Eltan S., Merdan-Yıldız E.D., Batıgün A.D. Mediating role of life satisfaction and death anxiety in the relationship between dark triad and social media addiction. Personality and Individual Differences, 2021. Vol. 172, article ID 110606. 8 p. DOI:10.1016/j.paid.2020.110606
  28. Nikbin D., Taghizadeh S.K., Rahman S.A. Linking Dark Triad traits to Instagram addiction: The mediating role of motives. Technology in Society, 2022. Vol. 68, article ID 101892. DOI:10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.101892
  29. Kırcaburun K., Kokkinos C.M., Demetrovics Z., Király O., Griffiths M.D., Çolak T.S. Problematic Online Behaviors among Adolescents and Emerging Adults: Associations between Cyberbullying Perpetration, Problematic Social Media Use, and Psychosocial Factors. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 2019. Vol. 17, pp. 891—908. DOI:10.1007/s11469-018-9894-8
  30. Kim S., Garthe R., Hsieh W.J., Hong J.S. Problematic Social Media Use and Conflict, Social Stress, and Cyber-Victimization Among Early Adolescents. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 2022. Vol. 41, pp. 223—233. DOI:10.1007/s10560-022-00857-1
  31. Paakkari L., Tynjälä J., Lahti H., Ojala K., Lyyra N. Problematic social media use and health among adolescents. International journal of environmental research and public health, 2021. Vol. 18(4), article ID 1885. 11 p. DOI:10.3390/ijerph18041885
  32. Bányai F., Zsila Á., Király O., Maraz A., Elekes Z., Griffiths M.D., Andreassen C.S., Demetrovics Z. Problematic Social Media Use: Results from a Large-Scale Nationally Representative Adolescent Sample. PLoS One, 2017. Vol. 12(1), article ID e0169839. 13 p. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0169839
  33. Sampasa-Kanyinga H., Hamilton H.A. Social networking sites and mental health problems in adolescents: The mediating role of cyberbullying victimization. European Psychiatry, 2015. Vol. 30, no. 8, pp. 1021—1027. DOI:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.09.011
  34. Savci M. Social Media Craving and the Amount of Self-Disclosure: The Mediating Role of the Dark Triad. International Online Journal of Educational Sciences, 2019. Vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 1—10. DOI:10.15345/iojes.2019.04.001
  35. Monacis L., Griffiths M.D., Limone P., Sinatra M., Servidio R. Selfitis Behavior: Assessing the Italian Version of the Selfitis Behavior Scale and Its Mediating Role in the Relationship of Dark Traits with Social Media Addiction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020. Vol. 17(16), article ID 5738. 17 p. DOI:10.3390/ijerph17165738
  36. Dalvi-Esfahani M., Niknafs A., Kuss D.J., Nilashi M., Afrough S. Social media addiction: Applying the DEMATEL approach. Telematics and Informatics, 2019. Vol. 43, article ID 101250. 24 p. DOI:10.1016/j.tele.2019.101250
  37. Craig W., Boniel-Nissim M., King N. et al. Social media use and cyber-bullying: A cross-national analysis of young people in 42 countries. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2020. Vol. 66, no. 6, pp. S100—S108. DOI:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.03.006
  38. Northrup J., Lapierre C., Kirk J., Rae C. The Internet Process Addiction Test: Screening for Addictions to Processes Facilitated by the Internet. Behavioral Sciences, 2015. Vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 341—352. DOI:10.3390/bs5030341
  39. Kaloeti D.V.S., Manalu R., Kristiana I.F., Bidzan M. The role of social media use in peer bullying victimization and onset of anxiety among Indonesian elementary school children. Frontiers in Psychology, 2021. Vol. 12, article ID 635725. 10 p. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.635725
  40. Chung K.L., Morshidi I., Yoong L.C., Thian K.N. The role of the dark tetrad and impulsivity in social media addiction: Findings from Malaysia. Personality and Individual Differences, 2019. Vol. 143, pp. 62—67. DOI:10.1016/j.paid.2019.02.016
  41. Turkle Sh. Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. New York: Basic Books, 2017. 378 p.
  42. Lowry P.B., Zhang J., Wang C., Siponen M. Why do adults engage in cyberbullying on social media? An integration of online disinhibition and deindividuation effects with the social structure and social learning model. Information Systems Research, 2016. Vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 665—991. DOI:10.1287/isre.2016.0671
  43. Wong B.Z.R., Goh S.J., Hui J.Y. Dark triad and social media addiction: the mediating roles of coping strategies [Electronic resource]. A research project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the bachelor of social science (hons) psychology faculty of arts and social science Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. Sungai Long. Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman: UTAR Institutional Repository. 2020. 104 p. URL: http://eprints.utar.edu.my/id/eprint/3805 (Accessed 11.02.2025).
  44. Xuan Y.J., Amat M.A.C. Social media addiction and young people: a systematic review of literature // Journal of Critical Reviews. 2020. Vol. 7, no. 13, pp. 537—541. DOI:10.31838/jcr.07.13.97

Information About the Authors

Viktor P. Sheinov, Doctor of Sociology, Candidate of Science (Physics and Matematics), Professor, Professor of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogical Skills, Republican Institute of Higher Education, Minsk, Belarus, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2191-646X, e-mail: sheinov1@mail.ru

Metrics

Views

Total: 38
Previous month: 28
Current month: 10

Downloads

Total: 15
Previous month: 14
Current month: 1