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Excessive social media has emerged as a potential behavioral addiction with multiple consequences, especially in young adulthood (18–24 years). This study aimed to assess the relationship between excessive social media use, sociodemographics, and psychosocial constructs in a Hispanic college student sample. College students (n = 621; n = 456 females; n = 160 males) from a university located on the U.S./Mexico border completed a survey assessing sociodemographics, social media addiction, social media use, and psychosocial constructs (e.g., Internet motives, sensation seeking, and need for drama [NFD]). Descriptive analyses were conducted, as were two linear regressions assessing weekly social media use and social media addiction. Participants reported using social media an average of 20 hours a week (SD = 19.47). In addition, 57.9 percent of participants reported using social media once a day or more, whereas 15.1 percent met the social media addiction threshold. Weekly social media use was positively associated with NFD, socialization, and coping as motives while being negatively associated with age. Social media addiction was positively associated with NFD and coping while being negatively associated with age. Findings suggest that Hispanic college students evidence high social media use rates and may be using social media as an unhealthy strategy to deal with negative mood and daily problems. Furthermore, college students may be using social media as an avenue to engage in attention-seeking behaviors and manipulation of others. Prospective studies are warranted to assess these relationships temporally, as are intervention efforts aimed at reducing excessive social media use.

Social media use and texting among college students often coincide with drinking. The present study investigated the associations between monthly alcohol use, social media habits, sharing alcohol references, and drunk texting among Hispanic college students. Participants (n = 620, 71.6% female; Mage = 21.07 years, SD = 3.60) completed an online survey containing: demographics, drug use frequency, Sharing of Alcohol-Related Content on Social Media Sites Scale (SARC), Texting Under the Influence Scale, Strategic Self Presentation Scale, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, and iPhone Screen Time. Bivariate correlations assessed relationships between all variables. Six logistic regressions assessed subscales of the SARC, and a linear regression assessed the Texting Under the Influence Scale. Almost 15% of participants met criteria for social media addiction, almost 40% reported ever sharing alcohol posts, and approximately 20% reported drunk texting at least once per month. Participants with iPhones averaged 16.84 weekly hours on social media (based on “screen time”). Frequently posting references of drinking alone was associated with more time on social media, higher social media addiction, and greater public sharing of alcohol content. Conversely, posting references of drinking at social gatherings was associated with privately sharing alcohol references and increased social media addiction. Drunk texting was related to increased age, greater Instagram use, decreased Facebook use, and privately sharing alcohol posts. Findings suggest patterns of drinking and sharing alcohol-related content to inform health promotion efforts, especially while many during COVID-19 are heightening use of alcohol and social media.

Purpose The study assessed the relationships between sociodemographics, mental health, and prospective changes in loss of control over eating (LOCE). Methods Sixty-nine participants (Mage = 39.81 years, SD = 12.25; 49.3% female) completed a survey assessing sociodemographics, mental health, and LOCE at three time points. Results A one-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences between the Wave 1 and Wave 3 LOCE. Mixed between-within subjects ANOVAs revealed a main effects of time, essential worker status, and mental health constructs. Interaction effects were observed for sex, anxiety, and stress with time. Conclusion Findings provide insight into eating behaviors during COVID-19.