16th EUSPR Conference and Members’ Meeting

The Relation between (Problematic) Social Media Use and Physical Activity; a two-wave study

24 Sept 2025, 11:30

15m

Innere Medizin/1-401 - Seminarraum 401 (Virchowweg 9)

Oral presentation Adolescents and Risky Behaviours Parallel session 1A: Adolescents and Risky Behaviours

Speaker

Ina M. Koning (VU Amsterdam)

Description

Authors: Ina M. Koning (VU Amsterdam), Emma Morelissen, Helen Vossen (Utrecht University)

Background: This study investigated the longitudinal effects of (problematic) social media use on physical activity levels among adolescents and the extent to which gender moderated this relationship.
Methods: A total of 205 adolescents (Mage= 13.7 years; 53.7% female) participated in two annual measurements, using online self-report questionnaires.
Results: Results show a significant negative effect between problematic social media use and physical activity, no significant effect of intensity of social media use on physical activity was found. That is, problematic social media use predicted decreased physical activity among adolescents one year later. In addition, gender did not significantly moderate the main effects. Thus, social media use negatively affects physical activity levels only when social media is used in a problematic manner. Just the intensity of social media use does not lead to decreased physical activity.