Search Advanced

AIMS Public Health

2025, Volume 12, Issue 4: 1172-1189. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2025060
Previous Article Next Article
Research article Special Issues

A link between problematic social media use and mental health in Greece: Sex and generation differences

  • 1.
    Laboratory Nursing Counselling and Psychoeducation of Patients and Caregivers, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  • 2.
    Clinical Epidemiology Laboratory, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  • 3.
    Faculty of Nursing, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
  • 4.
    Faculty of Nursing, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
  • Published: 16 December 2025

  • Our study aimed to evaluate the association between problematic social media use and mental health. Additionally, we examined sex and generation differences. We performed a cross-sectional study in Greece using a convenience sample. Participants were divided into three generational cohorts: Generation Z (born 1997–2012), Millennials (born 1981–1996), and Generation X (born 1965–1980). To evaluate problematic social media use, we employed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Anxiety and depression were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, and the sleep quality was assessed with the Sleep Quality Scale. We developed multivariable linear regression models to control for confounding variables. Our findings revealed a positive correlation between problematic social media use and anxiety, which was unaffected by sex or generation. Additionally, a positive link was found between problematic social media use and depression, with a stronger association observed in Generation Z and Millennials. Moreover, our multivariable models indicated a negative relationship between problematic social media use and sleep quality, which was more pronounced among males and Millennials. In summary, our results underscore the link between problematic social media use and mental health issues. Policymakers, stakeholders, and healthcare professionals should devise and implement suitable interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of problematic social media use.

    Citation: Polyxeni Mangoulia, Aglaia Katsiroumpa, Zoe Katsiroumpa, Evmorfia Koukia, Parisis Gallos, Ioannis Moisoglou, Petros Galanis. A link between problematic social media use and mental health in Greece: Sex and generation differences[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2025, 12(4): 1172-1189. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2025060

    Related Papers:

  • Our study aimed to evaluate the association between problematic social media use and mental health. Additionally, we examined sex and generation differences. We performed a cross-sectional study in Greece using a convenience sample. Participants were divided into three generational cohorts: Generation Z (born 1997–2012), Millennials (born 1981–1996), and Generation X (born 1965–1980). To evaluate problematic social media use, we employed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Anxiety and depression were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, and the sleep quality was assessed with the Sleep Quality Scale. We developed multivariable linear regression models to control for confounding variables. Our findings revealed a positive correlation between problematic social media use and anxiety, which was unaffected by sex or generation. Additionally, a positive link was found between problematic social media use and depression, with a stronger association observed in Generation Z and Millennials. Moreover, our multivariable models indicated a negative relationship between problematic social media use and sleep quality, which was more pronounced among males and Millennials. In summary, our results underscore the link between problematic social media use and mental health issues. Policymakers, stakeholders, and healthcare professionals should devise and implement suitable interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of problematic social media use.


    Abbreviations

    PSMU

    Problematic social media use

         FOMO

    Fear of missing out

         BSMAS

    Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale

         PHQ-4

    Patient Health Questionnaire-4
    加载中


    Authors' contributions


    Conceptualization, P.M., Z.K. and Pe.G.; methodology, P.M., A.K., Z.K., E.K. and Pe.G.; software, I.M. and Pa.G.; validation, I.M. and Pa.G.; formal analysis, Pe.G.; inves-tigation, A.K., Z.K., E.K. and Pe.G.; resources, I.M. and Pa.G.; data curation, I.M., Pa.G. and Pe.G; writing—original draft preparation, P.M., A.K., Z.K., E.K., I.M., Pa.G and Pe.G.; writing—review and editing, P.M., A.K., Z.K., E.K., I.M., Pa.G and Pe.G.; visualization, A.K., Z.K. and Pe.G.; su-pervision, and Pe.G.; project administration, Pe.G.

    Conflicts of interest


    Petros Galanis is an editorial board member for AIMS Public Health, Petros Galanis, Polyxeni Mangoulia, and Ioannis Moisoglou are the guest editors for special issue of AIMS Public Health, and they were not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article. All authors declare that there are no competing interests.

    [1] Valkenburg PM, Meier A, Beyens I (2022) Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence. Curr Opin Psychol 44: 58-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.017
    [2] Andreassen CS, Pallesen S (2014) Social network site addiction—an overview. Curr Pharm Des 20: 4053-4061. https://doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990616
    [3] Griffiths M (2005) A “components” model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. J Subst Use 10: 191-197. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659890500114359
    [4] Cataldo I, Lepri B, Neoh MJY, et al. (2021) Social media usage and development of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence: A systematic review. Front Psychiatry 11: 508595. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.508595
    [5] Weinstein AM (2023) Problematic social networking site use: Effects on mental health and the brain. Front Psychiatry 13: 1106004. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1106004
    [6] Vahedi Z, Zannella L (2021) The association between self reported depressive symptoms and the use of social networking sites: A meta-analysis. Curr Psychol 40: 2174-2189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-0150-6
    [7] Ahmed O, Walsh EI, Dawel A, et al. (2024) Social media use, mental health and sleep: A systematic review with meta analyses. J Affect Disord 367: 701-712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.193
    [8] Galanis P, Katsiroumpa A, Katsiroumpa Z, et al. (2025) Association between problematic TikTok use and mental health: A systematic review and meta analysis. AIMS Public Health 12: 491-519. https://doi.org/10.3934/publichealth.2025027
    [9] Alsunni AA, Latif R (2020) Higher emotional investment in social media is related to anxiety and depression. J Taibah Univ Med Sci 16: 247-252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2020.11.004
    [10] Katsiroumpa A, Moisoglou I, Gallos P, et al. (2025) Problematik TikTok use and its association with poor sleep among greek young adults. Psychiatry Int 6: 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint6010025
    [11] Bilali A, Katsiroumpa A, Koutelekos I, et al. (2025) Association between TikTok use and anxiety, depression, and sleepiness among adolescents: A cross-sectional study in Greece. Pediatr Rep 17: 34. https://doi.org/10.3390/pediatric17020034
    [12] Scott H, Cleland Woods H (2018) Fear of missing out and sleep: Cognitive behavioural factors in adolescents' nighttime social media use. J Adolesc 68: 61-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.07.009
    [13] Houghton D, Pressey A, Istanbulluoglu D (2020) Who needs social networking? An empirical enquiry into the capability of Facebook to meet human needs and increase satisfaction with life. Comput Hum Behav 106: 106153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.09.029
    [14] Hartanto A, Yong JC, Toh WX, et al. (2020) Cognitive, social, emotional, and subjective health benefits of computer use in adults: A 9-year longitudinal study from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS). Comput Hum Behav 104: 106179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.106179
    [15] Livingstone S, Ólafsson K, Staksrud E (2011) Social networking, age and privacy. London, UK: EU Kids Online Network. [cited 2025 July 20]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313011851_Social_networking_age_and_privacy.
    [16] Tsitsika AK, Tzavela EC, Janikian M, et al. (2014) Online social networking in adolescence: Patterns of use in six European countries and links with psychosocial functioning. J Adolesc Health 55: 141-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.11.010
    [17] Keresteš G, Štulhofer A (2020) Adolescents' online social network use and life satisfaction: A latent growth curve modelling approach. Comput Hum Behav 104: 106187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.106187
    [18] Karim F, Oyewande AA, Abdalla LF, et al. (2020) Social media use and its connection to mental health: A systematic review. Cureus 12: e8627. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.8627
    [19] Keles B, McCrae N, Grealish A (2020) A systematic review: the influence of social media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents. Int J Adolesc Youth 25: 79-93. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1590851
    [20] Crone EA, Konijn EA (2018) Media use and brain development during adolescence. Nat Commun 9: 588. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03126-x
    [21] Sobieraj S, Kraemer NC (2020) Similarities and differences between genders in the usage of computer with different levels of technological complexity. Comput Hum Behav 104: 106145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.09.021
    [22] Cantrell MS (2020) Generations at a glance. IFAS, University of Florida . [cited 2025 July 31]. Available from: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/wc398
    [23] Dimock M (2019) Defining generations: Where Millennials end and Generation Z begins. Pew Research Center . [cited 2025 July 31]. Available from: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/01/17/where-millennials-end-and-generation-z-begins/
    [24] Vandenbroucke JP, von Elm E, Altman DG, et al. (2007) Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE): Explanation and elaboration for the STROBE initiative. PLoS Med 4: e297. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0040297
    [25] Andreassen CS, Billieux J, Griffiths MD, et al. (2016) The relationship between addictive use of social media and video games and symptoms of psychiatric disorders: A large-scale cross-sectional study. Psychol Addict Behav 30: 252-262. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000160
    [26] Monacis L, de Palo V, Griffiths MD, et al. (2017) Social networking addiction, attachment style, and validation of the Italian version of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. J Behav Addict 6: 178-186. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.023
    [27] Dadiotis A, Bacopoulou F, Kokka I, et al. (2021) Validation of the Greek version of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale in undergraduate students. EMBnet J 26: e975. https://doi.org/10.14806/ej.26.1.975
    [28] Katsiroumpa A, Katsiroumpa Z, Koukia E, et al. (2025) Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale: Translation and validation in Greek. Int J Caring Sci 18: 661-671.
    [29] Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW, et al. (2009) An ultra-brief screening scale for anxiety and depression: the PHQ-4. Psychosomatics 50: 613-621. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psy.50.6.613
    [30] Karekla M, Pilipenko N, Feldman J (2012) Patient Health Questionnaire: Greek language validation and subscale factor structure. Compr Psychiatry 53: 1217-1226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.05.008
    [31] Snyder E, Cai B, de Muro C, et al. (2018) New single-item Sleep Quality Scale: Results of psychometric evaluation in patients with chronic primary insomnia and depression. J Clin Sleep Med 14: 1849-1857. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.7478
    [32] World Medical Association.World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA (2013) 310: 2191-2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053
    [33] Kim JH (2019) Multicollinearity and misleading statistical results. Korean J Anesthesiol 72: 558-569. https://doi.org/10.4097/kja.19087
    [34] Du M, Zhao C, Hu H, et al. (2024) Association between problematic social networking use and anxiety symptoms: A systematic review and meta analysis. BMC Psychol 12: 263. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01705-w
    [35] Wang P, Wang X, Wu Y, et al. (2018) Social networking sites addiction and adolescent depression: A moderated mediation model of rumination and self esteem. Pers Individ Dif 127: 162-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.02.008
    [36] Kreski N, Platt J, Rutherforda C, et al. (2021) Social media use and depression symptoms among United States adolescents. J Adolesc Health 68: 146-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.07.006
    [37] Bergfeld NS, Van den Bulck J (2021) It's not all about the likes: Social media affordances with nighttime, problematic, and adverse use as predictors of adolescent sleep indicators. Sleep Health 7: 548-555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2021.05.009
    [38] Deci EL, Ryan RM (2000) The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychol Inq 11: 227-268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01
  • Reader Comments
  • © 2025 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
  • 1. 

    沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

  1. 本站搜索
  2. 百度学术搜索
  3. 万方数据库搜索
  4. CNKI搜索
AIMS Public Health
2.7 5.3

Metrics

Article views(166) PDF downloads(12) Cited by(0)

Preview PDF
Download XML
Export Citation
Article outline

Figures and Tables

Tables(7)

Other Articles By Authors

Related pages

Tools

/

DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
Return
Return

Catalog