Unravelling the Association Between Trait Mindfulness and Problematic Social Media Use in Youth

TL;DR

This study explores how mindfulness, especially emotional acceptance, can help reduce problematic social media use among young people.

Contribution

The study identifies acceptance as a novel predictor of problematic social media use, distinct from other traits like narcissism.

Findings

Acceptance of trait mindfulness significantly predicts problematic social media use.

Awareness of trait mindfulness does not significantly predict problematic social media use.

Narcissism traits do not mediate the relationship between mindfulness and problematic social media use.

Abstract

The compulsive and unregulated use of social media, also known as problematic social media use (PSMU), has raised increasing concerns about its detrimental impact on psychological well-being and daily functioning among young individuals. Understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying this behavioural pattern is essential, with personality traits emerging as a particularly relevant area of investigation. While some personality traits, such as narcissism, have received substantial attention, others remain overlooked. Through a cross-sectional design, this study examined how trait mindfulness, as captured in terms of awareness and acceptance, predicts PSMU while accounting for sociodemographics (age, sex, and education) and both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. A total of 180 participants (meanage = 22.16 years; SDage = 2.47 years; 95 females) completed the Narcissistic Personality Inventory-13, the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale, the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale, and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Regression analyses indicated that only the acceptance of trait mindfulness significantly predicted PSMU. These findings suggest that cultivating a non-judgmental and open stance towards internal experiences may protect against PSMU through affect regulation and emotional acceptance.

Figures