The Relation of PSMU and ADHD Symptoms and the Interaction with Gender

Abstract

Previous studies on the relation of problematic social media use on ADHD symptoms (attention deficit, impulsivity, and hyperactivity) lacked focus on the relation of gender. This relationship and whether it interacted with gender was cross-sectionally investigated in the current study among adolescents aged 11 to 16 in the Netherlands. Data from the 2017 wave from the Digital Youth Project (DYP) was analyzed. This sample included N = 696 respondents after data cleaning aged between 11 and 16 (M = 12.94, SD = .03). In line with previous studies the results of the multiple regression analysis showed that problematic social media was related to the ADHD symptoms. However, the interaction with gender was not substantiated. The current study adds to research regarding the relation and substantiates that future policies be shaped similarly for boys and girls. In short, problematic use of social media is related to ADHD symptoms, and gender does not interact with this relation according to the results of the current study.