The relationship between ADHD, OCD, and problematic social media use
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21282547 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nazir S Hawi (Notre Dame University – Louaize), Maya Samaha (0000-0002-7901-1794, Notre Dame University – Louaize, corresponding author), Emma Shaffu (Notre Dame University – Louaize) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 267 |
| Pages | 107134 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Acta Psychologica (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0001-6918 • E-ISSN: 1873-6297 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107134 |
| PMID | 42184802 |
| OpenAlex | W7162284041 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 37 |
Problematic social media use (PSMU) has increasingly been conceptualized as an addiction-like pattern of online engagement characterized by impaired control and continued use despite negative consequences. This cross-sectional study examined whether inattentive symptoms and OCD symptoms were associated with PSMU, and whether inattentive symptoms mediated or moderated the association between OCD symptoms and PSMU, in a sample of 403 Lebanese university students who completed validated self-report measures of all three constructs. Analyses included Pearson correlations, linear regression, and PROCESS-based mediation and moderation models. Inattentive symptoms showed the strongest association with PSMU, and OCD symptoms were indirectly associated with PSMU through inattentive symptoms. Together, OCD symptoms and inattentive symptoms explained 35.98% of the variance in PSMU. Mediation analyses indicated partial mediation of the OCD-PSMU association by inattentive symptoms, whereas moderation analyses provided no evidence that inattentive symptoms altered the strength of the association between OCD symptoms and PSMU. These findings are consistent with the view that attentional dysregulation may represent an important indirect pathway linking OCD symptoms with PSMU
Injury prevention · Poison control · Social media · Suicide prevention · Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Mental Health via Writing
The World Health Organization adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS)
Prevalence of social media addiction across 32 nations
Validity of the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self‐Report Scale (ASRS) Screener in a representative sample of health plan members
Why people use social media
The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory
A ‘components’ model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework
Fear of missing out and compulsive social media use as mediators between OCD symptoms and social media fatigue
Social Media Use and Well-Being
Problematic use of digital media in children and adolescents with a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder compared to controls. A meta-analysis
A mixed-methods study of problematic social media use, attention dysregulation, and social media use motives
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Symptoms, Social Media Use Intensity, and Social Media Use Problems in Adolescents
The associations between levels of inattention/hyperactivity and social media addiction among young adults
Relationships among smartphone addiction, stress, academic performance, and satisfaction with life
Influences of digital media use on children and adolescents with ADHD during Covid-19 pandemic
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Types and Social Media
From comfortable to conflicted
Addiction to Social Media and Attachment Styles
The Relations Among Social Media Addiction, Self-Esteem, and Life Satisfaction in University Students
The interplay between ADHD symptoms and time perspective in addictive social media use
| Highly cited | No |
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