INFORMATION

Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicología del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.

PSICOTHEMA
  • Director: Laura E. Gómez Sánchez
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  • ISSN: 0214-9915
  • Digital Edition:: 1886-144X
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Using Social Networking Sites During Lockdown: Risks and Benefits

Covadonga González-Nuevo1, Marcelino Cuesta1, Álvaro Postigo1, Álvaro Menéndez-Aller1, Jaime García-Fernández1 and Daria J. Kuss2

1 University of Oviedo, and
2 Nottingham Trent University

Background: Previous research about use of Social Networking Sites (SNS) use during the COVID-19 lockdown has examined benefits and risks of SNS use (i.e., support through SNS, problematic SNS use and interaction about COVID-19) without comparing them. This study has two objectives: (i) to evaluate which SNS uses (problematic SNS use and interaction about COVID-19 on SNS) predict increased emotional distress, and (ii) to analyse if social support and interaction about COVID-19 mediated the relationship between time spent on SNS and increased emotional distress. Method: A total of 1,003 participants (75.5% women) over 18 years old took part (M = 42.33; SD = 14.32 years). Three hierarchical linear regressions were performed for the first objective and a path analysis was performed for the second. Results: Results showed that negative social comparison on SNS had the highest positive regression weight, followed by interaction about COVID-19 and addictive consequences. Also, an indirect effect of time spent on SNS on anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction through interaction about COVID-19 and support through SNS was found. Conclusions: The results indicate that comparative SNS use is the best predictor of emotional distress. The mediation model proposed was confirmed, highlighting the importance of assessing specific SNS uses.

Uso de Redes Sociales Durante el Confinamiento: Riesgos y Beneficios. Introducción: Estudios previos durante el confinamiento por COVID-19 sobre el uso de Redes Sociales (RRSS) han examinado los beneficios y riesgos de diferentes usos (uso problemático, interacción sobre el COVID-19 y apoyo mediante RRSS), sin compararlos. Este estudio tiene dos objetivos: a) evaluar qué uso de RRSS predice mejor el incremento de distrés emocional, y b) analizar si el apoyo y la interacción sobre COVID-19 en RRSS media la relación entre el tiempo de uso y el distrés emocional. Método: La muestra constó de 1,003 participantes (75.5% mujeres) mayores de 18 años (M = 42.33; DT = 14.32). Se llevaron a cabo tres regresiones lineales jerárquicas para el primer objetivo y un path análisis para el segundo. Resultados: La comparación social negativa en RRSS tiene el mayor peso de regresión, seguido de interacción sobre el COVID-19 y consecuencias adictivas. Se ha obtenido un efecto indirecto del tiempo de uso sobre el distrés emocional a través de la interacción sobre COVID-19 y el apoyo mediante RRSS. Conclusiones: Los resultados indican que el uso comparativo de RRSS es el mejor predictor de distrés emocional. Se ha confirmado el modelo de mediación, enfatizando la importancia de la evaluación de usos específicos de RRSS.

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Impact Factor JCR SSCI Clarivate 2023 = 3.2 (Q1) / CiteScore SCOPUS 2023 = 6.5 (Q1)