Abstract
Introduction: The rapid expansion of internet access and social media use has transformed communication and social interaction globally; however, it has also raised concerns regarding negative psychological outcomes. Emerging adults, often described as “digital natives,” may be particularly vulnerable to these effects. This study aimed to investigate the associations between flourishing, Problematic Internet Use (PIU), and time spent on social media among emerging adults.
Study Design: A cross-sectional online survey.
Methods: The cross sectional study was conducted from. February to April 2025 with 1,044 participants (59.9% men, 40.1% women; mean age=18.85, SD=1.38). Participants completed self-report measures assessing flourishing using the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, PIU using the PIU Questionnaire, and daily time spent on social media. Mediation analysis was conducted using PROCESS macro Model 4 while controlling for age and gender to examine whether time spent on social media mediated the association between flourishing and PIU.
Results: Greater time spent on social media was associated with lower flourishing and well-being scores, including emotional, social, and psychological well-being dimensions. In contrast, PIU and its subcomponents (obsession, control disorder, and neglect) increased significantly with higher social media use. Mediation analysis indicated that time spent on social media significantly mediated the negative relationship between flourishing and PIU (indirect effect=-0.047, 95% CI: -0.068, -0.028, P<0.001).
Conclusion: These findings are consistent with the displacement hypothesis and the I-PACE model, suggesting that lower flourishing is associated with increased social media engagement, which may contribute to the development of PIU. The results highlight the importance of integrating flourishing-enhancing interventions and digital wellness strategies to reduce PIU risks among digitally immersed emerging adults.