Emotions, problematic internet use and exposure of intimacy on social networks in young people

Abstract

Public exposure of intimacy on social networks (extimacy) is frequent in young people, and could be associated with the emotions they experience before connecting and problematic use of the internet (addictive use, preference for online social interaction, and use to regulate emotions). However, these links have scarcely been investigated. The aims of this study were to: (1) analyze the prevalence of different emotions experienced by young people before connecting to the internet, (2) explore their correlations with problematic internet use and extimacy, (3) analyze possible differences in emotions and problematic internet use based on greater or less extimacy, and (4) explore the predictive capacity of emotions and problematic internet use with respect to extimacy. Participants were 312 young people, aged 18–28 years old (M = 21.22, SD = 2.45). The results indicated that the emotion most experienced by young people before connecting to the internet is boredom, although the prevalence observed in positive emotions, such as joy or excitement, was considerable. Significant correlations were found between the emotions experienced before connecting, problematic internet use, and extimacy. Young people with high levels of extimacy showed significantly higher scores in the emotions of boredom, excitement, stress, joy and happiness, as well as in addictive use of the internet and use to regulate their mood. The emotions of joy, excitement, and boredom, along with addictive internet use, were significant predictors of extimacy.