Differential identity components predict dimensions of problematic facebook use

Does desire thinking mediate the influence of in-group identity as an Instagram user on components of problematic Instagram use?

Desire-based thinking is associated with the magnitude and severity of problematic social media use. One's ingroup identity has also been shown to be related to problematic behaviour including excessive social media use. Recent work showed that different factors predicted either compulsivity or withdrawal-based aspects of problematic Instagram. For compulsivity symptoms, negative metacognitions and the verbal perseveration component of desire thinking (i.e., persistent repetition of self-talk about the need to achieve a desired goal) were essential. In contrast, for withdrawal symptoms identity centrality (and no other dimensions of identity) and imaginal prefiguration (i.e., thoughts related to the mental images of a desired target or of its context for consumption) were the only predictors. The current study extended this work by testing whether the direct effects of components of ingroup identity as an Instagram user (N = 200) on increasing problematic use was also accounted for indirectly as a function of increasing desire-based thoughts as an active mediator, and whether these effects differed as a function of desire thinking component (i.e., imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration). Results showed that for overall problematic Instagram use desire thinking and the imaginal prefiguration component were found to fully mediate the influence of one ingroup self-investment aspect of identity, namely centrality i.e., chronicity of being an Instagram ingroup member for one's experienced identity. Total desire thinking was also shown to fully mediate the effects of identity centrality only for that component of problematic Instagram use that reflected compulsivity-type symptoms and to be a partial mediator for withdrawal-type symptoms. Imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration desire thinking components were both shown to partially mediate the effect of identity centrality on withdrawal symptoms but not show any mediating influence for compulsivity. These results reemphasise the primary significance of identity centrality (and ingroup self-investment processes) in accounting for variability in problematic Instagram use but also detail the importance of desire thinking factors as mediating its expression.

Patterns of implicit and explicit identity as a vegan or vegetarian in predicting healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa

Orthorexia nervosa (OrNe) is an eating disorder characterised by a pathological interest and preoccupation with healthy foods and a healthy diet. Evidence suggests that tendencies towards OrNe may be prevalent across diet groups, and this is particularly the case in vegans and vegetarians. Our previous work has identified that alongside individual differences in obsessive compulsiveness and perfectionism, cognitive biases (attentional preference for healthy-related cues) are associated with OrNe, whereas explicit identity (as a vegan/vegetarian) is only associated with a healthy orthorexia form. No work has assessed whether one's known identity (explicit identity) or that form of identity which is based on fast acting cognitive associations (implicit identity) further differentiate healthy orthorexia from OrNe tendencies in addition to compulsiveness and perfectionism. One hundred and forty-four self-identified vegans (n = 45), vegetarians (n = 50) and meat-eaters (omnivores) (n = 49) (66 females, 74 males, 4 non-binary; M age = 35.09) completed measures of current hunger status, obsessive compulsivity, perfectionism, the Teruel Orthorexia Scale, perceived identity centrality as a vegan/vegetarian (explicit identity) and a "self as vegan/vegetarian" implicit association test (implicit identity). Results showed increased orthorexia tendencies in both vegans and vegetarians compared to meat eaters (omnivores) but only in terms of healthy orthorexia. In addition, no differences were shown for OrNe suggesting the diet type is not influential in pathological orthorexia. Explicit identity and current hunger status were both shown to be associated with healthy orthorexia and not OrNe. Implicit identity as a vegan/vegetarian was unrelated to both dimensions, while compulsiveness and perfectionism predicted OrNe. Despite individuals implicitly associating the self with being a vegan/vegetarian, this identity does not serve as a maker of orthorexia nervosa.

Related metacognitions, desire thinking and identity differentially predict compulsion and withdrawal symptoms in problematic Instagram use

Work has identified that metacognitive thought results in desire-based thinking and perpetuates the magnitude and severity of maladaptive behaviour including problematic social media use, and also that one's ingroup identity is related to increasing problematic behaviour. No evidence has ascertained the relative contribution of these as related differential factors in the experience of problematic social media use. The current study explored the comparative importance of components of desire thinking, positive and negative metacognitions and dimensions of ingroup identity on degree of problematic use among 147 current Instagram users. Results showed that for predicting general problematic Instagram use negative metacognitive beliefs and the verbal perseverance component of desire-based thinking were significant. Importantly, however, different factors appeared to be important for predicting distinct aspects of problematic Instagram. For compulsivity indicators, negative metacognitions and verbal perseveration were essential, whereas for the withdrawal component identity centrality (and no other dimensions of identity) and imaginal prefiguration emerge as the sole independent predictors.

Does identity as a drinker predict problem recognition motivation in harmful drinkers?

Harmful drinking is associated with significant negative health and social outcomes, but drinkers are reticent to recognise personal drinking problems, hindering natural recovery or help-seeking. Recent evidence suggests that social identity as a drinker is associated with various drinking-related factors but has not been examined in relation to likelihood of problem recognition. In a group of ninety-six harmful drinkers (61 females, M age = 34 years) we explored how identity components associated with ingroup self-investment and ingroup self-definition in combination with implicit identity as a drinker accounted for degrees of problem recognition. In addition to demographic information, addiction experience and drinking behaviour (AUDIT), respondents completed measures of ingroup self-investment (identity centrality, solidarity, and satisfaction), ingroup self-definition (ingroup homogeneity and self-stereotyping), a "self as drinker" identity implicit association test and problem recognition (four items from the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale). After controlling for possible covariates (age, gender and alcohol addiction experience) increased problem recognition was accounted for by explicit and not implicit identity components. More specifically, increasing perceived chronic saliency of one's drinker identity (self-investment in the drinker ingroup) and not an implicit association between the self and being a drinker was related to increased likelihood of problem recognition. This suggests that how chronically and explicitly accessible the identity of the drinker is for individuals might operate to stimulate the willingness or motivation to recognise potential drinking related harm.

Components of identity expression in problem and non-problem gamblers

Few studies have examined whether specific aspects of group identification predict problematic and non-problematic addictive behaviours and none have focused on gambling. Applying Leach et al.'s (2008) hierarchical model of in-group identification, we tested the associations between components of self-investment (satisfaction, solidarity, and centrality) and components of self-definition (individual self-stereotyping, in-group homogeneity) on distinguishing between problem and non-problem gambling (n = 10,157) and on the severity of problematic gambling behaviour (n = 2,568). Results showed that (i) in-group-based identities are important in predicting problematic vs. non-problematic gambling behaviours; (ii) in-group-based identities are important in predicting the severity of problematic gambling; (iii) how self-invested an individual is with their in-group and aspects associated with self-definition processes are both important predictors; (iv) perceptions related to how chronically salient one's group membership is for the self (centrality) are essential features of the self-investment mechanism; and (v) self-stereotypical beliefs about one's essential similarities to the prototypical gambling group member norm are fundamental for the defining oneself as a gambler.

Individual differences in selective attentional bias for healthy and unhealthy food-related stimuli and social identity as a vegan/vegetarian dissociate "healthy" and "unhealthy" orthorexia nervosa

Previous work identified the operation of an attentional bias (AB) towards healthy food related stimuli among those with increasing tendencies towards orthorexia nervosa (ON) using a modified Stroop task. The current work aimed to replicate and extend our understanding of this effect by incorporating alternative measures of AB (i.e., the dot probe task) and ON (i.e., the Teruel Orthorexia Scale [ToS]) in a sample of self-defined vegans/vegetarians. The theoretical assertion of the ToS is the conceptual broadening of orthorexia with differentiable dimensions - one characterised as a "healthy" preoccupation with healthy food/eating patterns (HeOr) and the other by a more underlying pathology (OrNe). This study also aimed to examine the pattern of responding across these two dimensions according to factors known to predict ON. Eighty-six participants (mean age = 33.0 years; 20 males, 66 females) completed measures of obsessive compulsivity, perfectionism, state/trait anxiety and ToS as well as a dot probe designed to measure AB for healthy and unhealthy-related food stimuli, threat ratings of each of words utilised and perceived identity centrality as a vegan/vegetarianism. Results showed a dissociation of predicted determinants for "healthy" ON (HeOr) and pathological ON (OrNe). HeOr was predicted by increasing identity centrality whereas OrNe was predicted by increased OCD and perfectionism, and increased interference for healthy-related food words (in particular slowed disengagement) and not unhealthy related food words. Threat-related ratings of unhealthy food words was shown to be common across both dimensions. This pattern highlights cognitive and individual differences-based correlates of pathological and non-pathological ON.

Exploring the Role of Problematic Social Network Site Use in the Link Between Reflective Functioning and Identity Processes in Adolescents

Literature highlighted that problematic social network site use might have relevant detrimental consequences on users’ well-being, particularly in adolescence. However, it is still not clear which variables could be considered protective or risk factors for such problematic use. The present study aimed to fill this gap, examining the relationship between reflective functioning and adolescents’ identity development, while taking problematic SNS use into account. A sample of 354 students (age range = 13–19; Mage = 16.18, SD = 1.58; 19.9% males) from two Italians high schools participated in the study. Results from structural equation modeling showed that adolescents with high levels of reflective functioning reported lower levels of problematic SNS use. Furthermore, problematic SNS use mediated the relationship between reflective functioning and identity development, by disfavouring identity in-depth exploration and favouring reconsideration of commitment. We discussed clinical and research implications.