Background/Objective. The COVID-19 pandemic that has started in 2019 has led to an increase in time spent online and has raised awareness of the benefits and risks of social media use. Previous research highlights that it is not intensity (time) but addictive use that is associated with higher levels of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. No such comparative study was found on sleep quality. In our study we investigated the correlation between problematic social media use, quality of sleep and the level of ADHD symptoms among young people, on a non-clinical sample during the third wave of the epidemic. Method. Our online questionnaire, which contained, among others, the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and the self-report version of the SWAN scale (Strength and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior) was completed by 139 people (mean age 21.37 years, standard deviation 2.68 years, range: 15-27). We also asked about the intensity of social media use. Results. Significant differences were found in the intensity of social media use during online (M=3.12; SD=1.08) versus face-to-face education (M=2.47; SD=0.78) (t(73)=6.01; p<0.001; d=0.70). ADHD symptom levels were not related to the intensity of social media use but showed a signifi cant positive correlation with problematic use (r=0.32; p<0.001). Similarly, the intensity of social media use showed no correlation with the quality of sleep however, problematic use was associated with poorer sleep quality (r=0.27; p=0.002). In our mediator analysis, problematic use was associated with higher levels of ADHD symptoms both directly (c'=-0.61; p=0.02) and indirectly (ab=-0.36; 95% CI: -0.60 - -0.10) through poorer sleep quality (F(1,120)=21.94; p<0.001; R2=0.27). Discussion. Our results support that it is not the intensity rather the problematic use that is an important factor in social media use. Our results suggest that problematic use may lead, not only directly but also through sleep quality to worsening ADHD symptoms.
Keywords: ADHD; attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; sleep; social media.