Exploring the Cyberpsychology of Social Media Addiction and Public Health Risks among Black American Women in the USA

This study is a pioneering effort to address the under-researched intersection of Black American women, social media addiction, and associated health risks due to their significant engagement with these platforms. It delves into aspects of cyberpsychology concerning how social media serves as a tool...

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Main Author: Darrell Norman Burrell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academic Research and Publishing UG (i. G.) 2024-07-01
Series:Health Economics and Management Review
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Online Access:https://armgpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/HEM_5_2_2024_2.pdf
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author Darrell Norman Burrell
author_facet Darrell Norman Burrell
author_sort Darrell Norman Burrell
collection DOAJ
description This study is a pioneering effort to address the under-researched intersection of Black American women, social media addiction, and associated health risks due to their significant engagement with these platforms. It delves into aspects of cyberpsychology concerning how social media serves as a tool for empowerment among Black women, yet simultaneously poses risks of addiction and potential public health consequences. By drawing on established addiction theories, frameworks, and a thorough review of existing literature, this research offers a critical analysis of a demographic that has been traditionally overlooked in scholarly discourse. The article analyses the risks associated with social media and the specifics of their manifestation during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies the forms of social media addiction. The paper examines the problem from the perspective of various scientific theories and research schools. In particular, that deals with the theory of social comparison, the theory of symbolic interactionism, the theory of positive reinforcement, the theory of behavioural dependence, the theory of operant conditioning, the theory of attachment, the theory of social construction of technologies (SCOT), the health belief model (HBM). Also, it concerns concepts that study addiction to social networks due to the need for attention and fear of missing out (FOMO) through the analysis of reflective and impulsive cognitive processes and the reward deficiency syndrome (RDS). The main signs of psychological dependence on social networks are identified, including excessive time on the Internet, constant checking, neglect of duties, lack of sleep, social isolation, mood swings, comparison and envy, unsuccessful attempts to reduce online time, negative impact on well-being, secrecy, or defensiveness. Based on the inquiry’s results, several recommendations have been developed to reduce psychological dependence on social media, specifically for black American women, namely digital literacy, prevention, and intervention. Cognitive behavioural therapy, support groups, mobile health apps, etc. are discussed as well.
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spelling doaj-art-9bd59d499f5e4d3d88ea29ff6465ef272025-08-20T02:09:35ZengAcademic Research and Publishing UG (i. G.)Health Economics and Management Review2786-46262786-46342024-07-0152143110.61093/hem.2024.2-02Exploring the Cyberpsychology of Social Media Addiction and Public Health Risks among Black American Women in the USADarrell Norman Burrell0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4675-9544DHEd, PhD, DBA, University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy, Patients Program (Baltimore, the USA) Pellegrino Centre for Clinical Bioethics, Georgetown University (Washington, DC, the USA)This study is a pioneering effort to address the under-researched intersection of Black American women, social media addiction, and associated health risks due to their significant engagement with these platforms. It delves into aspects of cyberpsychology concerning how social media serves as a tool for empowerment among Black women, yet simultaneously poses risks of addiction and potential public health consequences. By drawing on established addiction theories, frameworks, and a thorough review of existing literature, this research offers a critical analysis of a demographic that has been traditionally overlooked in scholarly discourse. The article analyses the risks associated with social media and the specifics of their manifestation during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies the forms of social media addiction. The paper examines the problem from the perspective of various scientific theories and research schools. In particular, that deals with the theory of social comparison, the theory of symbolic interactionism, the theory of positive reinforcement, the theory of behavioural dependence, the theory of operant conditioning, the theory of attachment, the theory of social construction of technologies (SCOT), the health belief model (HBM). Also, it concerns concepts that study addiction to social networks due to the need for attention and fear of missing out (FOMO) through the analysis of reflective and impulsive cognitive processes and the reward deficiency syndrome (RDS). The main signs of psychological dependence on social networks are identified, including excessive time on the Internet, constant checking, neglect of duties, lack of sleep, social isolation, mood swings, comparison and envy, unsuccessful attempts to reduce online time, negative impact on well-being, secrecy, or defensiveness. Based on the inquiry’s results, several recommendations have been developed to reduce psychological dependence on social media, specifically for black American women, namely digital literacy, prevention, and intervention. Cognitive behavioural therapy, support groups, mobile health apps, etc. are discussed as well.https://armgpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/HEM_5_2_2024_2.pdfafrican-american womencyberpsychologydigital behaviourinternet addictiononline behaviour patternspublic healthsocial media addictionsocial media health risks
spellingShingle Darrell Norman Burrell
Exploring the Cyberpsychology of Social Media Addiction and Public Health Risks among Black American Women in the USA
Health Economics and Management Review
african-american women
cyberpsychology
digital behaviour
internet addiction
online behaviour patterns
public health
social media addiction
social media health risks
title Exploring the Cyberpsychology of Social Media Addiction and Public Health Risks among Black American Women in the USA
title_full Exploring the Cyberpsychology of Social Media Addiction and Public Health Risks among Black American Women in the USA
title_fullStr Exploring the Cyberpsychology of Social Media Addiction and Public Health Risks among Black American Women in the USA
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Cyberpsychology of Social Media Addiction and Public Health Risks among Black American Women in the USA
title_short Exploring the Cyberpsychology of Social Media Addiction and Public Health Risks among Black American Women in the USA
title_sort exploring the cyberpsychology of social media addiction and public health risks among black american women in the usa
topic african-american women
cyberpsychology
digital behaviour
internet addiction
online behaviour patterns
public health
social media addiction
social media health risks
url https://armgpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/HEM_5_2_2024_2.pdf
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