Compulsive use of social networking sites in Belgium: prevalence, profile, and the role of attitude toward work and school

Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2014 Mar;17(3):166-71. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2013.0029. Epub 2013 Oct 10.

Abstract

A representative sample (n=1,000) of the Belgian population aged 18 years and older filled out an online questionnaire on their Internet use in general and their use of social networking sites (SNS) in particular. We measured total time spent on the Internet, time spent on SNS, number of SNS profiles, gender, age, schooling level, income, job occupation, and leisure activities, and we integrated several psychological scales such as the Quick Big Five and the Mastery Scale. Hierarchical multiple regression modeling shows that gender and age explain an important part of the compulsive SNS score (5%) as well as psychological scales (20%), but attitude toward school (additional 3%) and income (2.5%) also add to explained variance in predictive models of compulsive SNS use.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Attitude*
  • Belgium
  • Compulsive Behavior / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Leisure Activities
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Schools
  • Sex Factors
  • Social Media / statistics & numerical data*
  • Social Networking
  • Surveys and Questionnaires