Why people are becoming addicted to social media: A qualitative study

Maryam Chegeni; Parvin Mangolian Shahrbabaki; Mahin Eslami Shahrbabaki; Nouzar Nakhaee; Aliakbar Haghdoost

doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_1109_20

Why people are becoming addicted to social media: A qualitative study

J Educ Health Promot. 2021 May 31;10(1):175. doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1109_20. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Maryam Chegeni^{1

2}, Parvin Mangolian Shahrbabaki³, Mahin Eslami Shahrbabaki⁴, Nouzar Nakhaee⁵, Aliakbar Haghdoost⁶

Affiliations

¹ Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
² Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
³ Nursing Research Center, Razi Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Critical Care Nursing, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
⁴ Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
⁵ Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
⁶ Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Social media addiction (SMA) led to the formation of health-threatening behaviors that can have a negative impact on the quality of life and well-being. Many factors can develop an exaggerated tendency to use social media (SM), which can be prevented in most cases. This study aimed to explore the reasons for SMA.

Materials and methods: This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis. A total of 18 SM addicted subjects were included through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Lundman and Graneheim qualitative content analysis method. A total of 18 SM addicted subjects were included through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Lundman and Graneheim qualitative content analysis method.

Results: The main category of "weakness in acquiring life skills" was extracted with three themes: "problems in socializing" (including communicating and escaping loneliness), "problems in resiliency" (including devastation in harsh conditions and inability to recover oneself and "lack of problem-solving skills" (including weaknesses in analysis and decision making and disorganization in planning).

Conclusions: Weakness in life skills plays an important role in individuals' addiction to SM and formation of the health-threatening behaviors. Since SMA can affect behavioral health, policymakers must adopt educational and preventive programs to increase the knowledge and skills of individuals in different societies in the modern world.

Keywords: Addiction; Iran; qualitative study; social media.