Patterns of Social Media Use: An Examination of Internalizing Symptoms, Social Support, Loneliness, and Netiquette in Student Transition to College

Author

• Catherine Forster, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

8-1-2026

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Cashel, Mary Louise

Abstract

The current study examined the association between maladaptive social media usage and perceived importance of social media use as risk factors for internalizing symptoms in first-year college students and their predictors of college adjustment. Participants completed a questionnaire composed of multiple measures assessing social media use, online behavior, symptoms of depression and anxiety, loneliness, social support, and college adjustment, at the beginning and at the end of their first semester of college. As hypothesized, maladaptive social media usage was associated with internalizing symptoms. This study evaluated the role of loneliness as a potential moderator of the relationship between maladaptive social media use and internalizing symptoms over time; however, few participants experienced an increase in maladaptive social media usage over the semester, and thus there were no main or moderating effects. In contrast, social support was indicated as a significant predictor of successful transition to college. Finally, netiquette as a factor that may correlate with social support and adaptive transition to college was explored, contributing to the limited empirical evidence regarding the protective role of netiquette in college-aged samples. The current study contributes to the literature regarding the psychometric properties of extant measures of social media use, specifically the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale and the Adolescents’ Digital Technology Interactions and Importance Scale. In addition to highlighting the relationship between social media use and internalizing symptoms, collectively the study offers information for university administrators, parents, and others regarding the importance of social support and mental health in the transition to college, and points of potential prevention and intervention efforts.