Introduction

Due to the serious situation of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide, many countries have implemented policies to minimize the spread of COVID-19 infection. However, some of these policies prevent people from physical contact. Consequently, many individuals may rely on social media to obtain information concerning COVID-19. Unfortunately, social media use (especially problematic social media use) may give rise to psychological distress. Therefore, this study thus examined potential psychopathology to explain the association between problematic social media use, psychological distress, and insomnia.

Methods

Utilizing an online survey, a sample of Iranian young adults (n = 1078 with 628 males; mean age = 26.24 years [SD ± 7.41]) completed questions and psychometric scales concerning psychological distress, insomnia, problematic social media use, fear of COVID-19, and COVID-19 misunderstanding.

Results

Problematic social media use was significantly associated with psychological distress both directly and indirectly. The indirect effects were through fear of COVID-19 (unstandardized coefficient [B] = 0.177; Bootstrapping SE = 0.026) and COVID-19 misunderstanding (B = 0.060; Bootstrapping SE = 0.014). Problematic social media use was significantly associated with insomnia both directly and indirectly. The indirect effect was through fear of COVID-19 (B = 0.062; Bootstrapping SE = 0.019) but not COVID-19 misunderstanding (B = 0.012; Bootstrapping SE = 0.014).

Discussion/conclusion

Due to the pressure of the COVID-19 outbreak, individuals are highly likely to develop psychological distress and insomnia. Apart from developing appropriate health policies to minimize the spread of COVID-19 infection, healthcare providers should design appropriate online campaigns to eliminate people's fear of COVID-19 and to diminish misunderstanding concerning COVID-19.

中文翻译：

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调查对 COVID-19 恐惧和 COVID-19 误解在有问题的社交媒体使用、心理困扰和失眠之间的关联中的中介效应。

介绍

由于全球 2019 年新型冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 的严峻形势，许多国家已实施政策以尽量减少 COVID-19 感染的传播。但是，其中一些政策会阻止人们进行身体接触。因此，许多人可能会依赖社交媒体来获取有关 COVID-19 的信息。不幸的是，社交媒体的使用（尤其是有问题的社交媒体使用）可能会导致心理困扰。因此，这项研究检查了潜在的精神病理学，以解释有问题的社交媒体使用、心理困扰和失眠之间的关联。

方法

利用在线调查，伊朗年轻人样本（n = 1078，其中 628 名男性；平均年龄 = 26.24 岁 [SD ± 7.41]）完成了有关心理困扰、失眠、有问题的社交媒体使用、对 COVID- 19 和 COVID-19 的误解。

结果

有问题的社交媒体使用与直接和间接的心理困扰显着相关。间接影响是对 COVID-19 的恐惧（非标准化系数 [B] = 0.177；Bootstrapping SE = 0.026）和对 COVID-19 的误解（B = 0.060；Bootstrapping SE = 0.014）。有问题的社交媒体使用与失眠直接或间接相关。间接影响是对 COVID-19 的恐惧（B = 0.062；Bootstrapping SE = 0.019），而不是对 COVID-19 的误解（B = 0.012；Bootstrapping SE = 0.014）。

讨论/结论

由于 COVID-19 爆发的压力，个人极有可能出现心理困扰和失眠。除了制定适当的卫生政策以尽量减少 COVID-19 感染的传播外，医疗保健提供者还应设计适当的在线活动，以消除人们对 COVID-19 的恐惧并减少对 COVID-19 的误解。