The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation in the Relationship Between Problematic Social Network Use and Trait Anxiety

Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology Vol.7 Issue.3

Doi:10.35365/ctjpp.25.3.04

RESEARCH ARTICLE / ARAŞTIRMA YAZISI

The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation in the Relationship Between Problematic Social Network Use and Trait Anxiety

Sosyal Ağların Sorunlu Kullanımı ve Sürekli Kaygı Arasındaki İlişkide Duygu Düzenlemenin Aracı Rolü

Fatih Ordu¹

Abstract:

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of emotion regulation (ER) in the relationship between problematic social network use (PSNU) and trait anxiety (TA) levels. Five hundred thirty-one adult participants residing in Türkiye took part in this correlational study. Data were collected using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Emotion Regulation Skills Scale. Structural equation modelling was employed to assess the mediating effect of ER. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between PSNU and TA. Additionally, a significant negative relationship was observed between PSNU and ER, as well as between ER and TA. ER was found to mediate the relationship between PSNU and TA. When ER was incorporated into the model, the direct effect of PSNU on TA decreased but remained statistically significant, indicating a partial mediation effect. PSNU alone accounted for 24% of the variance in TA; however, with the inclusion of ER as a mediator, the explained variance increased to 51%. The research model was validated, and the theoretical framework was supported. The results suggest that difficulties in ER may contribute to the behavioural addiction cycle of PSNU. Therefore, it is recommended that the interrelationships among anxiety, ER difficulties, and PSNU be considered in clinical assessment and treatment processes.

Keywords: Addictive Behaviour, Social Media Addiction, Anxiety, Emotion Regulation

¹Asst. Prof., Samsun University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Psychology Department, Samsun, Türkiye, E-mail: [email protected], Orcid Id: 0000-0002-3969-747X

Address of Correspondence/Yazışma Adresi: Fatih Ordu, Samsun University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Psychology Department, Gürgenyatak N. Merkez S. 40-2/1 55080 Canik, Samsun, Türkiye, E-mail: [email protected].

Date of Received/Geliş Tarihi: 06.02.2025, Date of Revision/Düzeltme Tarihi: 29.04.2025, Date of Acceptance/Kabul Tarihi: 30.04.2025, Date of Online Publication/Çevirimiçi Yayın Tarihi: 22.09.2025

Citing/Referans Gösterimi: Ordu, F. (2025). The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation in the Relationship Between Problematic Social Network Use and Trait Anxiety. Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, 7(3), 253-260

© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Cyprus Mental Health Institute / Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology (www.ktppdergisi.com). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/