The Structural Relationship of Mindfulness, Self-Control, and Problematic Social Media Use with Psychological Well-being

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mindfulness and self-control with problematic social media use, as well as the impact of the latter on psychological well-being. The significance of this study lies in its potential to elucidate the role of psychological factors in online behavior, thereby aiding in the design of effective interventions to prevent associated psychological harm. This is an applied study employing structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all first-cycle secondary school students in Babol County during the 2024–2025 academic year; based on Cochran's formula, a sample of 377 students was selected via multi-stage cluster sampling to complete the questionnaires. Data collection instruments included Tangney’s Self-Control Scale (2004), the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory, the Bergen Problematic Social Media Use Scale, and Diener’s Psychological Well-Being Scale (2009). The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling via SPSS 26 and AMOS 24 software. The findings revealed a significant direct path between problematic social media use and psychological well-being (β = 0.19, p = 0.002). Additionally, significant direct paths were observed between mindfulness and problematic social media use (β = 0.31, p = 0.002) and between self-control and problematic social media use (β = 0.35, p = 0.003) within the study's structural model. The findings of the present study indicate that problematic social media use significantly affects students' psychological well-being, highlighting the negative psychological consequences of improper and uncontrolled use of the virtual space. Furthermore, the variables of mindfulness and self-control play a significant indirect role in predicting problematic social media use, with problematic social media use acting as a mediator.