Social norms and problematic gaming among adolescents: The role of Internet use coping motives

Digital stress and friendship conflict in adolescence: the role of perceived norms and features of social media

Introduction

Digital stress, resulting from expectations of online availability, can increase the risk of conflicts with friends. However, friendship conflict remains an underexplored indicator, particularly in association with stressful online experiences. This study aims to examine the association between digital stress and conflict levels overtime, considering the role of social media expectations.

Method

1185 adolescents (59.3% f, Mage = 15.97 years, SD = 1.43) completed self-report measures at two timepoints, six months apart. A Structural Equation Model was employed to examine the longitudinal associations of social media expectations (i.e., friends' social media norms, friends' social media use, and perceived social media features) on friendship conflict, focusing on the mediating role of digital stress (i.e., entrapment and disappointment). Gender differences were explored.

Results

Perceived norms about social media use and unique features of social media (i.e., visualness) contributed to explain digital stress and, in turn, friendship conflict. Specifically, emotional responses to unmet expectations of availability on social media (i.e., disappointment) emerged as particularly relevant in explaining conflictual interactions, compared to the perceived pressure to be responsive to friends (i.e., entrapment). Males perceiving high availability of social media experience lower levels of entrapment, compared to females.

Discussion

Results from this study support the importance of considering social media as a context where to study friendship dynamics, as this knowledge can have several implications for promoting positive online experiences and preventing conflicts with friends.

The Social Processes of Excessive Online Gaming Homophily: Peer Selection or Influence?

Adolescents who befriend online game using peers may be at risk for initiated and continued excessive game use (online gaming use homophily). The present article examined how adolescents' severity of online gaming use related to their friends' online gaming behavior bi-directionally across a semester (peer selection or peer influence effect). Students from two universities completed three waves of online surveys within four and a half months (N = 3079; 33.6% female; Mage = 19.16; SD = 0.97). Random-intercepts, Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) analyses revealed that peer selection and peer influence both promote online gaming use homophily in adolescents' friendship groups. Furthermore, participants were more likely to form new friendships with peers exhibiting similar online gaming behavior as their behavior, subsequently reinforcing their online gaming use behaviors within these relationships. These social processes may exhibit a time lag among girls, which needs to be confirmed through longer-term follow-up. In general, findings suggest that effective prevention programs targeting excessive online gaming should not only focus on promoting social influence skills but also consider the structure of peer environments.

Exploring the Reasons for Preferring Digital Games Over Physical Activity Games in Adolescents: A Qualitative Study

PURPOSE

In the current world, adolescents are less likely to turn to physical activity games and often prefer to spend more time in the technological and digital world and have fun with digital games. This study aimed to explore reasons for preferring digital games to physical activity games in adolescents.

METHODS

Twenty-one adolescents participated in this qualitative study. The participants' age ranged from 11 to 19 who participated in semistructured interviews. The recorded interviews underwent thematic analysis to identify overall themes.

RESULTS

Five overall themes were identified from the interviews regarding reasons for preferring digital games over physical activity games. Identified themes included game characteristics, game space, game outcomes, peer pressure, and accessibility.

DISCUSSION

The findings of this research contribute to design adolescent-centered interventions that sustain/increase adolescents' interest in physical activity games and protect them from excessive/harmful use of digital games.

Physical activity, problematic gaming behavior, and quality of life prior and during the first 9 months of the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from a longitudinal study among university students

BACKGROUND

Generally, there is limited information on longitudinal trends and the interrelations between physical activity (PA), problematic gaming behavior (PGB), described as a dysfunctional pattern of videogame activities, and quality of life (QoL) based on data that include measurements from both pre- and postpandemic onset. This is also the case for university students. As society faced unprecedented restrictions during this period, these aspects may have developed unfavorably.

OBJECTIVE

To examine PA, PGB, and QoL among Norwegian University students prior to and during the initial stages of the pandemic and assess their temporal interrelations.

METHOD

The data are derived from the "Students' Psychological Health Over Time" study (SPOT). Linear mixed models were used to examine the development from January 2020 to November 2020 over three time points for the total sample and across gender. A traditional cross-lagged panel model analysis was used to estimate temporal associations. Age, gender, socioeconomic status, and partner status were included as covariates.

FINDINGS

PA and QoL decreased linearly over time (Cohen's d = 0.12 and 0.35, respectively), while only male students reported a small reduction in PGB (Cohen's d = 0.03). PA levels decreased considerably more for male students than female students (Cohen's d = 0.17 and 0.09, respectively). There was a small reciprocal negative temporal association between PA and PGB (standardized β = -0.04 and -0.05, respectively). All other temporal associations were not statistically significant in the adjusted analysis.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight gender-variant negative developments in PA and QoL and suggest a negative reciprocal interrelation between PA and PGB. The findings point to potential adverse health effects that should be taken into account when restrictive pandemic measures are considered.