The widespread use of social media among university students has raised concerns about its potentially addictive nature and psychological impact. This study examined usage patterns, indicators of addictive behavior, and dimensions of problematic use among 526 Spanish university students (68.8% female; aged 17–25). Participants completed an ad hoc questionnaire and the Problematic Smartphone and Social Media Use Scales (PSSNUS). The results showed an average of 3.13 h per day spent on social media, with WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok being the most frequently used platforms. More than 75% of the participants reported tolerance, and 43.4% of the total participants experienced a relapse (representing 230 individuals out of the 326 who uninstalled a social media platform). Psychological dependence and loss of productivity were the most affected dimensions (especially among women). Correlational analyses revealed associations between problematic use and time spent on mobile devices, number of platforms used, and TikTok consumption. These findings identify a profile of use consistent with addictive indicators of social media use among college students and highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies and further research.

The heterogeneity of problematic social media use (PSMU) has led to the study of differentiated user profiles, although most research is based on correlational designs rather than multidimensional approaches. The integrated examination of compulsivity, emotional regulation, psychological distress, and usage patterns stays limited. The present study aimed to identify empirical clusters of young people based on psychological, emotional, and behavioural variables related to social media use, and to compare their characteristics to better understand the heterogeneity of the phenomenon. A total of 530 young people participated (67.5% women; M = 19.70 years), completing measures of problematic use, emotional distress, digital compulsivity, emotional regulation, and time spent using social media. Hierarchical and k-means cluster analyses (k=3) were conducted, complemented by ANOVA and post hoc tests. Validity and discriminative capacity indicators (R²) were calculated. Three profiles were identified: a profile characterised by compulsive use (PCU), defined by the highest levels of consumption and compulsivity; a profile characterised by the highest levels of emotional distress despite moderate levels of consumption, termed the pattern associated with psychological distress (PAD); and a functional profile (FP), distinguished by low consumption, fewer symptoms and better emotional regulation.The most discriminative variables were problematic use (R² = .66) and compulsivity (R² = .49), whereas emotional regulation appears to act as a possible protective factor. These profiles may help to guide more precise preventive interventions.

There is growing evidence to suggest that problematic social media use reflects a variety of neurocognitive profiles. This study examined differences in absolute alpha and beta spectral power using electroencephalography across three usage profiles: Compulsive Use Profile (CUP), Distress-Associated Profile (DAP) and Functional Profile (FP), derived from a prior cluster analysis. Activity was recorded during three experimental phases: baseline rest, an adapted Go/NoGo task with social media stimuli, and recovery. A 32-channel EEG was recorded from 42 young adults ($\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ = 19.62 years) during the 3 phases mentioned. Absolute spectral power (Welch method) was calculated for the alpha and beta bands in frontal and parietal regions. Mixed ANOVAs, Mann–Whitney U pairwise comparisons and Friedman tests were performed to assess neural modulation. A cluster effect approaching, but not reaching, conventional significance was found for left frontal alpha power (p = 0.057); a direct test of the Profile × Phase interaction for this variable was not significant (p = 0.837), indicating this trend was not specific to any one experimental phase. Pairwise comparisons revealed that the CUP showed significantly lower left frontal alpha power than the FP during the task phase (p = 0.012), with no differences at rest or during recovery. The DAP group showed lower left parietal alpha power during the task (p = 0.036) and lower right parietal alpha power at rest (p = 0.034) compared with the FP group. Only the FP group exhibited significant modulation of alpha power (neural flexibility) across phases (p = 0.035). Problematic social media use is not a uniform phenomenon. The CUP and DAP show distinct neural patterns in the frontal cortex for compulsivity and in the parietal cortex for emotional vulnerability, supporting the use of differentiated neurocognitive models and the need for tailored clinical interventions.

The heterogeneity of problematic social media use (PSMU) has led to the study of differentiated user profiles, although most research is based on correlational designs rather than multidimensional approaches. The integrated examination of compulsivity, emotional regulation, psychological distress, and usage patterns stays limited. The present study aimed to identify empirical clusters of young people based on psychological, emotional, and behavioural variables related to social media use, and to compare their characteristics to better understand the heterogeneity of the phenomenon. A total of 530 young people participated (67.5% women; M = 19.70 years), completing measures of problematic use, emotional distress, digital compulsivity, emotional regulation, and time spent using social media. Hierarchical and k-means cluster analyses (k=3) were conducted, complemented by ANOVA and post hoc tests. Validity and discriminative capacity indicators (R²) were calculated. Three profiles were identified: a profile characterised by compulsive use (PCU), defined by the highest levels of consumption and compulsivity; a profile characterised by the highest levels of emotional distress despite moderate levels of consumption, termed the pattern associated with psychological distress (PAD); and a functional profile (FP), distinguished by low consumption, fewer symptoms and better emotional regulation.The most discriminative variables were problematic use (R² = .66) and compulsivity (R² = .49), whereas emotional regulation appears to act as a possible protective factor. These profiles may help to guide more precise preventive interventions.

This study evaluates the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection Loneliness Scale (IPARLS). A sample of 257 undergraduate students (88.3% female, M = 19.91 years) completed the IPARLS alongside measures of general loneliness (UCLA), digital behaviors (PSSNUS), and psychological distress (DASS-21). Exploratory Factor Analysis confirmed a robust unidimensional structure explaining 64% of the variance, with factor loadings ranging from .682 to .872. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach’s alpha= .962; split-half= .971). Construct validity was supported by significant positive correlations with depression, anxiety, and stress. Interestingly, an inverse correlation with the UCLA scale suggested that physical isolation does not necessarily translate into interpersonal distress. In conclusion, the Spanish IPARLS is a reliable, valid, and structurally straightforward instrument for assessing emotional suffering derived from perceived rejection in young adults.