Why Emotional Struggles in Teens Fuel Problematic Social Media Use
Why Emotional Struggles in Teens Fuel Problematic Social Media Use
Why Emotional Struggles in Teens Fuel Problematic Social Media Use
New research has uncovered how emotional struggles in adolescents may lead to problematic social media use. The study, presented at the European Congress of Psychiatry 2026, found that difficulties in recognising emotions do not directly cause fear of missing out (FoMO). Instead, broader mental health issues like anxiety and impulsivity play a key role in the connection.
The findings suggest that emotional processing challenges make young people more vulnerable to excessive social media habits—but only when combined with other psychiatric symptoms. The research examined how emotional recognition difficulties affect social media behaviour. Adolescents who struggled to identify and describe their emotions reported higher levels of problematic use. However, this link was not straightforward.
Anxiety, low mood, and behavioural problems acted as intermediaries between emotional struggles and FoMO. These issues also contributed to impulsive behaviour, which further increased the risk of social media addiction. The study highlighted that emotional difficulties alone do not directly trigger FoMO but instead create vulnerability through other mental health challenges.
Researchers stressed the need to prioritise emotional wellbeing over simply limiting screen time. Over the past five years, studies have increasingly focused on how digital influences interact with emotional processing. Methods like the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) were used, alongside real-time tracking of behaviour through ecological momentary assessment (EMA). The study concludes that emotional processing difficulties raise the risk of problematic social media use—but only when paired with symptoms like anxiety or impulsivity. Experts now recommend targeting emotional wellbeing in interventions rather than focusing solely on reducing time spent online. The findings provide clearer guidance for supporting adolescents in the digital age.