Moderators of anxiety
Emotional Investment
Adolescents who are emotionally invested in social media networks are more prone to experiencing higher levels of anxiety. Cleland Woods, states how emotional investment is a major contributor to anxiety and social media. Adolescents often feel the pressure to be constantly available and reply to messages immediately, which not only affects sleep quality, it affects their exposure to anxiety. As one may feel constant pressure to perform a task, one can only imagine the level of anxiety and constant exposure to be readily available even during sleep. On the other hand, nighttime-specific social media use is another major contributor to anxiety and social media. The idea that adolescents are spending more time at night on social networks because of the constant pressure to be available 24/7, results in later bedtimes, poorer sleep quality, and investment in being active on the sites 24/7. With decreased sleep and the same amount of psychological distress some inhabit on a day to day basis, one can only imagine the effect this has on adolescence. (Cleland Woods, 2016)
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Active vs. Passive
Some studies have looked into the difference between ways people use social media. Does passively scrolling through the news feed or actively posting and seeking out information correlate stronger with anxiety? Here is where gender differences come into effect. It was found that boys who actively use social media are more likely to experience depressive and anxious symptoms and girls who passively use use social media are more likely to experience depressive and anxious symptoms (Ehrenreich et al, 2016). Why is this? Many believe that it internalizing symptoms is the main factor. Facebook is a prime platform for expressing moods and thoughts and verbalizing anxieties that would have remained internal. Posting on Facebook gives the false sense of working through one's problems. It has actually been found that teens who post more negative posts report higher levels of anxiety and depression, this is because every negative post that gets positively reinforced results in the user feeling the negativity twice as much (Ehrenreich et al., 2016).
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Need For Approval and Extroversion
It has been found that extroversion is negatively correlated with anxiety and introversion is positively correlated with anxiety. However, many studies have also found that extroversion can lead to anxiety through the use of social networking sites. Extroverts are more likely to use social media actively, spend more time on social media, and use social media to seek attention. As extroverts increase the amount of time they spend on social media to communicate with others, they are more susceptible to developing addiction, which is positively correlated to anxiety (Steers et al., 2016). There is still alot of uncertainty about the relationship of extroversion and social media. A moderating factor for online anxiety in extroverts may be seen in need for approval. Extroverts and narcissists use social media as a way to connect with others, seek approval from others and seek attention from others. Extroverts may be unable to receive the amount of validation that they desire online due to the perceived competitive nature of Facebook. On social networking sites extroverts are not only competing with fellow extroverts, but also with introverts who may use Facebook as their social outlet. People who view themselves through the lens (or screen) of others typically develop a self-esteem that is contingent on external domains. If someone places a lot of importance on how others view them on social media then they are more likely to be anxious. People who are high in need for approval will feel overwhelmed by the constant stream of news feeds and will not receive the same attention on social media that they receive in offline settings. This may cause anxiety at not being able to satisfy the need to be approved in all settings. (Steers et al., 2016)
It has been found that extroversion is negatively correlated with anxiety and introversion is positively correlated with anxiety. However, many studies have also found that extroversion can lead to anxiety through the use of social networking sites. Extroverts are more likely to use social media actively, spend more time on social media, and use social media to seek attention. As extroverts increase the amount of time they spend on social media to communicate with others, they are more susceptible to developing addiction, which is positively correlated to anxiety (Steers et al., 2016). There is still alot of uncertainty about the relationship of extroversion and social media. A moderating factor for online anxiety in extroverts may be seen in need for approval. Extroverts and narcissists use social media as a way to connect with others, seek approval from others and seek attention from others. Extroverts may be unable to receive the amount of validation that they desire online due to the perceived competitive nature of Facebook. On social networking sites extroverts are not only competing with fellow extroverts, but also with introverts who may use Facebook as their social outlet. People who view themselves through the lens (or screen) of others typically develop a self-esteem that is contingent on external domains. If someone places a lot of importance on how others view them on social media then they are more likely to be anxious. People who are high in need for approval will feel overwhelmed by the constant stream of news feeds and will not receive the same attention on social media that they receive in offline settings. This may cause anxiety at not being able to satisfy the need to be approved in all settings. (Steers et al., 2016)