Despite their growing popularity, little research has focused on the association between Instagram and TikTok use and psychological well-being. Informed by Uses and Gratifications Theory, the present study investigates the flow states experienced when using each social media platform and whether these flow states differentially impact user well-being. A flow state is achieved when people are so engrossed in an activity that little else seems to matter to them and they will often continue the activity despite its negative consequences. Based upon a survey of adult Instagram (n = 195, M_age = 38) and TikTok users (n = 225, M_age = 37), the present study identified four unique clusters of users for both platforms based upon the levels of five flow dimensions: focused attention, curiosity, enjoyment, telepresence, and time distortion. Results found that TikTok users reported higher levels of overall flow than Instagram users. TikTok users also reported higher levels of the flow dimensions “enjoyment” and “time distortion.” The flow dimension of “telepresence” (immersion in a world created by the social media application) for both TikTok and Instagram users was associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety. These social media may provide an escape from everyday worries for users, although a suboptimal coping strategy. Whether Instagram and TikTok use are but “improved means to an unimproved end” is an important question that requires additional research.

中文翻译：

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Instagram 和 TikTok 的心流状态及其与心理健康的关联

尽管它们越来越受欢迎，但很少有研究关注 Instagram 和 TikTok 的使用与心理健康之间的关系。受使用和满足理论的启发，本研究调查了使用每个社交媒体平台时所经历的心流状态，以及这些心流状态是否会对用户的幸福感产生不同的影响。当人们全神贯注于一项活动而其他事情对他们来说似乎无关紧要时，就会达到心流状态，而且他们通常会继续这项活动，尽管它会带来负面后果。基于对成人 Instagram（n  = 195，M_年龄 = 38）和 TikTok 用户（n  = 225，M_{年龄）的调查} = 37)，本研究根据五个流量维度的水平为两个平台确定了四个独特的用户群：集中注意力、好奇心、享受、远程呈现和时间扭曲。结果发现，TikTok 用户报告的整体流量水平高于 Instagram 用户。TikTok 用户还报告了更高水平的流量维度“享受”和“时间扭曲”。TikTok 和 Instagram 用户的“网真”（沉浸在社交媒体应用程序创造的世界中）的流动维度与更高水平的抑郁和焦虑有关。这些社交媒体可以让用户摆脱日常的烦恼，尽管这是一种次优的应对策略。Instagram 和 TikTok 的使用是否只是“改善手段以达到未改善的目的”是一个需要进一步研究的重要问题。