Psychological inoculation against problematic social media use among adolescents: An experimental study

<p dir="ltr">This research investigated whether an attitudinal inoculation intervention can build resistance against problematic social media use (PSMU) in adolescents. This experimental study assessed PSMU levels and attitudes toward PSMU before and after the intervention. The inter...

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Main Author: Sameha Alshakhsi (17032311) (author)
Other Authors: Dena Al‐Thani (22565408) (author), Niko Männikkö (5189984) (author), Raian Ali (12066006) (author)
Published: 2025
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author Sameha Alshakhsi (17032311)
author2 Dena Al‐Thani (22565408)
Niko Männikkö (5189984)
Raian Ali (12066006)
author2_role author
author
author
author_facet Sameha Alshakhsi (17032311)
Dena Al‐Thani (22565408)
Niko Männikkö (5189984)
Raian Ali (12066006)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Sameha Alshakhsi (17032311)
Dena Al‐Thani (22565408)
Niko Männikkö (5189984)
Raian Ali (12066006)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-07-27T09:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1111/nyas.70011
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Psychological_inoculation_against_problematic_social_media_use_among_adolescents_An_experimental_study/30541514
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Information and computing sciences
Data management and data science
Psychology
Clinical and health psychology
Social and personality psychology
inoculation theory
persuasive design
PSMU
psychological inoculation
social media disorder
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Psychological inoculation against problematic social media use among adolescents: An experimental study
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p dir="ltr">This research investigated whether an attitudinal inoculation intervention can build resistance against problematic social media use (PSMU) in adolescents. This experimental study assessed PSMU levels and attitudes toward PSMU before and after the intervention. The intervention utilized scenarios reflecting symptoms of PSMU, including preoccupation, tolerance, withdrawal, persistence, displacement, problem, deception, escape, and conflict. Scenarios employed Cialdini's persuasion principles (reciprocity, liking, social proof, scarcity, authority, and commitment and consistency) and explained these principles to participants. The study included a control group, active inoculation group (participants identified countermeasures to PSMU scenarios), and passive inoculation group (countermeasures were provided). Participants were adolescents aged 11–15 years. A mixed ANCOVA was employed to test the intervention's impact on PSMU, post‐intervention attitude changes, and post‐inoculation talk (PIT) about excessive technology use. Results indicated a significant decrease in PSMU levels following active inoculation, particularly in withdrawal, persistence, displacement, and deception symptoms. The passive inoculation group showed a significant decrease in deception only. No changes were observed in the control group. Regarding PIT, passive inoculation showed a marginally significant increase in negative PIT, whereas active inoculation saw a slight reduction in positive PIT. These findings, while exploratory, suggest attitudinal inoculation's potential for mitigating PSMU and warrant further research.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nyas.70011" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nyas.70011</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_721a98a555a848b4e42db8c6883f1e85
identifier_str_mv 10.1111/nyas.70011
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/30541514
publishDate 2025
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
repository.name.fl_str_mv
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rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling Psychological inoculation against problematic social media use among adolescents: An experimental studySameha Alshakhsi (17032311)Dena Al‐Thani (22565408)Niko Männikkö (5189984)Raian Ali (12066006)Information and computing sciencesData management and data sciencePsychologyClinical and health psychologySocial and personality psychologyinoculation theorypersuasive designPSMUpsychological inoculationsocial media disorder<p dir="ltr">This research investigated whether an attitudinal inoculation intervention can build resistance against problematic social media use (PSMU) in adolescents. This experimental study assessed PSMU levels and attitudes toward PSMU before and after the intervention. The intervention utilized scenarios reflecting symptoms of PSMU, including preoccupation, tolerance, withdrawal, persistence, displacement, problem, deception, escape, and conflict. Scenarios employed Cialdini's persuasion principles (reciprocity, liking, social proof, scarcity, authority, and commitment and consistency) and explained these principles to participants. The study included a control group, active inoculation group (participants identified countermeasures to PSMU scenarios), and passive inoculation group (countermeasures were provided). Participants were adolescents aged 11–15 years. A mixed ANCOVA was employed to test the intervention's impact on PSMU, post‐intervention attitude changes, and post‐inoculation talk (PIT) about excessive technology use. Results indicated a significant decrease in PSMU levels following active inoculation, particularly in withdrawal, persistence, displacement, and deception symptoms. The passive inoculation group showed a significant decrease in deception only. No changes were observed in the control group. Regarding PIT, passive inoculation showed a marginally significant increase in negative PIT, whereas active inoculation saw a slight reduction in positive PIT. These findings, while exploratory, suggest attitudinal inoculation's potential for mitigating PSMU and warrant further research.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nyas.70011" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nyas.70011</a></p>2025-07-27T09:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1111/nyas.70011https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Psychological_inoculation_against_problematic_social_media_use_among_adolescents_An_experimental_study/30541514CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/305415142025-07-27T09:00:00Z
spellingShingle Psychological inoculation against problematic social media use among adolescents: An experimental study
Sameha Alshakhsi (17032311)
Information and computing sciences
Data management and data science
Psychology
Clinical and health psychology
Social and personality psychology
inoculation theory
persuasive design
PSMU
psychological inoculation
social media disorder
status_str publishedVersion
title Psychological inoculation against problematic social media use among adolescents: An experimental study
title_full Psychological inoculation against problematic social media use among adolescents: An experimental study
title_fullStr Psychological inoculation against problematic social media use among adolescents: An experimental study
title_full_unstemmed Psychological inoculation against problematic social media use among adolescents: An experimental study
title_short Psychological inoculation against problematic social media use among adolescents: An experimental study
title_sort Psychological inoculation against problematic social media use among adolescents: An experimental study
topic Information and computing sciences
Data management and data science
Psychology
Clinical and health psychology
Social and personality psychology
inoculation theory
persuasive design
PSMU
psychological inoculation
social media disorder