Peer relationship increasing the risk of social media addiction among Chinese adolescents who have negative emotions

Social media has expanded the scope and method of interpersonal communication, and presents the risk of social media addiction as well. This study reported the psychometrics of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and further analyzed the moderating role of peer relationship on the association between negative emotions and risk of social media addiction. A total of 1258 survey participants were asked to complete a set of scales online. Exploratory structural equation modeling enabled BSMAS to reveal a solid one-factor structure with satisfactory internal consistency coefficient. Criterion-related validity and variance explanation rate analysis implied a positive relationship between negative emotions and risk of social media addiction, and identified the significant contributions of negative emotions and peer relationship to the risk of social media addiction. Moderation analysis demonstrated that peer relationship positively moderated the effect of negative emotions on the risk of social media addiction. However, gender was not a moderator affecting negative emotions on the risk of social media addiction. BSMAS was a valid tool for measuring the risk of social media addiction among Chinese adolescents. Lastly, peer relationship is a positive moderator in influencing negative emotions and risk of social media addiction.