The Influence of Problematic Mobile Social Media Use on Adolescent Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Peer Attachment

Yun Luo; Yan Jiang

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17

| Peer-Reviewed

The Influence of Problematic Mobile Social Media Use on Adolescent Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Peer Attachment

Yun Luo, Yan Jiang

Published in American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 10, Issue 6)

Received: 9 December 2021 Accepted: 20 December 2021 Published: 24 December 2021

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Previous studies have found that the use of social media has an impact on adolescents’ empathy. For example, uploading photos on WeChat, playing online games, and establishing two-way communication enable teenagers to have greater emotional support and can effectively reduce social anxiety, depression, and loneliness as well as enhance intimacy and happiness. To explore the influence of problematic mobile social media use on teenagers’ empathy and the role of peer attachment in their relationship. In this study, the mobile social media use of 1,157 adolescents was measured through an adolescent problematic mobile social media use assessment questionnaire, an interpersonal response index questionnaire, and an adolescent peer attachment questionnaire. According to the theory of emotional sharing, a regulatory model was constructed, and the following conclusions were drawn: (1) problematic mobile social media use is significantly positively correlated with adolescents’ empathy and peer attachment, between which there is a significant positive correlation; and (2) peer attachment plays a moderating role in the relationship between problematic mobile social media use and empathy. When peer communication is high, the positive predictive effect of problematic mobile social media use on empathy is enhanced. The concrete manifestation is that, For low peer attachment individuals, regardless of whether teenagers use mobile social media more or less, they have lower empathy scores, while for high peer attachment individuals, regardless of the mobile social media use, they have higher empathy scores. This result shows that high peer communication can increase teenagers' empathy ability.

Published in	American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 10, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17
Page(s)	178-183
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Problematic Mobile Social Media Use, Adolescent, Empathy, Peer Attachment

References

[1]	Davis, M. H. (1983). Measuring individual differences in empathy: Evidence for a multidimensional approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44 (1), 113-126.
[2]	Wiseman, T. (1996). A concept analysis of empathy. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 23, 1162–1167.
[3]	Eisenberg, N., & Eggum, N. D. (2009). Empathic responding: Sympathy and personal distress. The Social Neuroscience of Empathy, (5), 71-83.
[4]	Aziz, A. B., & Kauser, A. S. (2021). Relationship between level of empathy during residency training and perception of professionalism climate. BMC Medical Education, 20 (1), 320.
[5]	Zhan, Q., & Zhang, C. (2020). The influence of empathy and interpersonal trust on the communication ability of college psychologists. Heilongjiang Higher Education Research, 6, 91-96.
[6]	He, N., & Zhu, Y. L. (2016). Self-love and other-love: Research on the relationships between narcissism, empathy and implicit altruism. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 48 (2), 199-210.
[7]	Serena, G., & Tambone, V. (2020). The moral compass in the covid-19 era: the line between empathy and eagerness of the young surgical generation. A multidisciplinary point of view from first year residents (pgy-1). Bioethics Update, 6 (2), 115-120.
[8]	Allemand, M., Steiger, A. E., & Fend, H. A. (2015). Empathy development in adolescence predicts social competencies in adulthood. Journal of Personality, 83 (2), 229-241.
[9]	Espejo-Siles, R., Zych, I., & Llorent, V. J. (2020). Empathy, social and emotional competencies, bullying perpetration and victimization as longitudinal predictors of somatic symptoms in adolescence. Journal of Affective Disorder, 271, 145-151.
[10]	Clark, J. L., Algoe, S. B., & Green, M. C. (2018). Social network sites and well-being: The role of social connection. Current Directions In Psychological Science, 27 (1), 32-37.
[11]	Glaser, P., Liu, J. H., Hakim, M. A., Vilar, R., & Zhang, R. (2018). Is social media use for networking positive or negative? Offline social capital and internet addiction as mediators for the relationship between social media use and mental health. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 47 (3), 12-18.
[12]	Casale, S., & Banchi, V. (2020). Narcissism and problematic social media use: A systematic literature review. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 11, 100252.
[13]	Jiang, Y. (2018). Development of problematic mobile social media usage assessment questionnaire for adolescents. Psychology: Techniques and Applications, 6 (10), 613-621.
[14]	Michikyan, M., & Suárez-Orozco, C. (2016). Adolescent media and social media use. Journal of Adolescent Research, 31 (4), 411-414.
[15]	Li, X., Jiang, Y., & Zhang, B. (2018). The influence of loneliness on problematic mobile social networks usage for adolescents: The role of interpersonal distress and positive self-presentation. Journal of Psychological Science.
[16]	Polignano, M., Basile, P., Rossiello, G., de Gemmis, M., & Semeraro, G. (2017). User’s social media profile as predictor of empathy. Bratislava, Slovakia. Temporal and Holistic User Modeling, 386-390.
[17]	Pai, P., & Arnott. D. C. (2013). User adoption of social networking sites: eliciting uses and gratifications through a means–end approach. Computers in Human Behavior, 29 (3), 1039-1053.
[18]	Chen, C., & Leung, L. (2016). Are you addicted to Candy Crush Saga? An exploratory study linking psychological factors to mobile social game addiction. Telematics And Informatics, 33 (4), 1155-1166.
[19]	Ma, C. Q., & Huebner, E. S. (2008). Attachment relationships and adolescents’ life satisfaction: Some relationships matter more to girls than boys. Psychology In The Schools, 45 (2), 177-190.
[20]	Li, L. & Wu, Y. (2009). Adolescents' peer attachment and their internet use. Studies of Psychology & Behavior, 7 (2), 81-86.
[21]	Lei, L., Yang, Y., Liu, M. X. (2006). The Relationship Between Adolescents’ Neuroticism, internet service preference and internet addiction. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 38 (3), 375-381.
[22]	Griffiths, M. D. (1997). Psychology of computer use: XLIII some comments on “addictive use of the internet” by young. Psychological Reports, 80, 81-82.
[23]	Lee-Won, R. J., Herzog, L., & Park, S. G. (2015). Hooked on Facebook: The role of social anxiety and need for social assurance in problematic use of Facebook. Cyber Psychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 18 (10), 567-574.
[24]	Shen, C. (2018). The influence of social media on the empathy levels of Chinese secondary students. International Journal of Psychological Studies, 10 (3), 7-12.
[25]	Campos, J. J., Camras, F. L. (2004). On the nature of emotion regulation. Child Development, 75, 377-394.
[26]	Davis, M. H. (1980). A multidimensional approach to individual differences in empathy. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 10, 85.
[27]	Armsden, G. C., & Greenberg, M. T. (1987). The inventory of parent and peer attachment: individual differences and their relationship to psychological well-being in adolescence. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 16 (5), 427-454.
[28]	Berryman, C., Ferguson, C. J., & Negy, C. (2017). Social media use and mental health among young adults. Psychiatric Quarterly, 89 (2), 307-314.
[29]	Heaven, P. C. L., Ciarrochi, J., Leeson, P., & Barkus, E. (2013). Agreeableness, conscientiousness, and psychoticism: Distinctive influences of three personality dimensions in adolescence. British Journal of Psychology, 104, 481-494.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Yun Luo, Yan Jiang. (2021). The Influence of Problematic Mobile Social Media Use on Adolescent Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Peer Attachment. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 10(6), 178-183. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Yun Luo; Yan Jiang. The Influence of Problematic Mobile Social Media Use on Adolescent Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Peer Attachment. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2021, 10(6), 178-183. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Yun Luo, Yan Jiang. The Influence of Problematic Mobile Social Media Use on Adolescent Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Peer Attachment. Am J Appl Psychol. 2021;10(6):178-183. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17,
  author = {Yun Luo and Yan Jiang},
  title = {The Influence of Problematic Mobile Social Media Use on Adolescent Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Peer Attachment},
  journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
  volume = {10},
  number = {6},
  pages = {178-183},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20211006.17},
  abstract = {Previous studies have found that the use of social media has an impact on adolescents’ empathy. For example, uploading photos on WeChat, playing online games, and establishing two-way communication enable teenagers to have greater emotional support and can effectively reduce social anxiety, depression, and loneliness as well as enhance intimacy and happiness. To explore the influence of problematic mobile social media use on teenagers’ empathy and the role of peer attachment in their relationship. In this study, the mobile social media use of 1,157 adolescents was measured through an adolescent problematic mobile social media use assessment questionnaire, an interpersonal response index questionnaire, and an adolescent peer attachment questionnaire. According to the theory of emotional sharing, a regulatory model was constructed, and the following conclusions were drawn: (1) problematic mobile social media use is significantly positively correlated with adolescents’ empathy and peer attachment, between which there is a significant positive correlation; and (2) peer attachment plays a moderating role in the relationship between problematic mobile social media use and empathy. When peer communication is high, the positive predictive effect of problematic mobile social media use on empathy is enhanced. The concrete manifestation is that, For low peer attachment individuals, regardless of whether teenagers use mobile social media more or less, they have lower empathy scores, while for high peer attachment individuals, regardless of the mobile social media use, they have higher empathy scores. This result shows that high peer communication can increase teenagers' empathy ability.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Influence of Problematic Mobile Social Media Use on Adolescent Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Peer Attachment
AU  - Yun Luo
AU  - Yan Jiang
Y1  - 2021/12/24
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17
T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JO  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
SP  - 178
EP  - 183
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5672
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17
AB  - Previous studies have found that the use of social media has an impact on adolescents’ empathy. For example, uploading photos on WeChat, playing online games, and establishing two-way communication enable teenagers to have greater emotional support and can effectively reduce social anxiety, depression, and loneliness as well as enhance intimacy and happiness. To explore the influence of problematic mobile social media use on teenagers’ empathy and the role of peer attachment in their relationship. In this study, the mobile social media use of 1,157 adolescents was measured through an adolescent problematic mobile social media use assessment questionnaire, an interpersonal response index questionnaire, and an adolescent peer attachment questionnaire. According to the theory of emotional sharing, a regulatory model was constructed, and the following conclusions were drawn: (1) problematic mobile social media use is significantly positively correlated with adolescents’ empathy and peer attachment, between which there is a significant positive correlation; and (2) peer attachment plays a moderating role in the relationship between problematic mobile social media use and empathy. When peer communication is high, the positive predictive effect of problematic mobile social media use on empathy is enhanced. The concrete manifestation is that, For low peer attachment individuals, regardless of whether teenagers use mobile social media more or less, they have lower empathy scores, while for high peer attachment individuals, regardless of the mobile social media use, they have higher empathy scores. This result shows that high peer communication can increase teenagers' empathy ability.
VL  - 10
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Yun Luo

School of Education, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, China
Yan Jiang

Psychological Counseling Center, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Yun Luo, Yan Jiang. (2021). The Influence of Problematic Mobile Social Media Use on Adolescent Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Peer Attachment. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 10(6), 178-183. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Yun Luo; Yan Jiang. The Influence of Problematic Mobile Social Media Use on Adolescent Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Peer Attachment. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2021, 10(6), 178-183. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Yun Luo, Yan Jiang. The Influence of Problematic Mobile Social Media Use on Adolescent Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Peer Attachment. Am J Appl Psychol. 2021;10(6):178-183. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17,
  author = {Yun Luo and Yan Jiang},
  title = {The Influence of Problematic Mobile Social Media Use on Adolescent Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Peer Attachment},
  journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
  volume = {10},
  number = {6},
  pages = {178-183},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20211006.17},
  abstract = {Previous studies have found that the use of social media has an impact on adolescents’ empathy. For example, uploading photos on WeChat, playing online games, and establishing two-way communication enable teenagers to have greater emotional support and can effectively reduce social anxiety, depression, and loneliness as well as enhance intimacy and happiness. To explore the influence of problematic mobile social media use on teenagers’ empathy and the role of peer attachment in their relationship. In this study, the mobile social media use of 1,157 adolescents was measured through an adolescent problematic mobile social media use assessment questionnaire, an interpersonal response index questionnaire, and an adolescent peer attachment questionnaire. According to the theory of emotional sharing, a regulatory model was constructed, and the following conclusions were drawn: (1) problematic mobile social media use is significantly positively correlated with adolescents’ empathy and peer attachment, between which there is a significant positive correlation; and (2) peer attachment plays a moderating role in the relationship between problematic mobile social media use and empathy. When peer communication is high, the positive predictive effect of problematic mobile social media use on empathy is enhanced. The concrete manifestation is that, For low peer attachment individuals, regardless of whether teenagers use mobile social media more or less, they have lower empathy scores, while for high peer attachment individuals, regardless of the mobile social media use, they have higher empathy scores. This result shows that high peer communication can increase teenagers' empathy ability.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Influence of Problematic Mobile Social Media Use on Adolescent Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Peer Attachment
AU  - Yun Luo
AU  - Yan Jiang
Y1  - 2021/12/24
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17
T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JO  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
SP  - 178
EP  - 183
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5672
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.17
AB  - Previous studies have found that the use of social media has an impact on adolescents’ empathy. For example, uploading photos on WeChat, playing online games, and establishing two-way communication enable teenagers to have greater emotional support and can effectively reduce social anxiety, depression, and loneliness as well as enhance intimacy and happiness. To explore the influence of problematic mobile social media use on teenagers’ empathy and the role of peer attachment in their relationship. In this study, the mobile social media use of 1,157 adolescents was measured through an adolescent problematic mobile social media use assessment questionnaire, an interpersonal response index questionnaire, and an adolescent peer attachment questionnaire. According to the theory of emotional sharing, a regulatory model was constructed, and the following conclusions were drawn: (1) problematic mobile social media use is significantly positively correlated with adolescents’ empathy and peer attachment, between which there is a significant positive correlation; and (2) peer attachment plays a moderating role in the relationship between problematic mobile social media use and empathy. When peer communication is high, the positive predictive effect of problematic mobile social media use on empathy is enhanced. The concrete manifestation is that, For low peer attachment individuals, regardless of whether teenagers use mobile social media more or less, they have lower empathy scores, while for high peer attachment individuals, regardless of the mobile social media use, they have higher empathy scores. This result shows that high peer communication can increase teenagers' empathy ability.
VL  - 10
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download