The relationship between problematic social media usage by college students, intentionality in self-regulation, and their connection to the school environment

A survey was conducted among 1,884 college students to explore the potential categories of problematic social media usage and intentional self-regulation among college students, as well as the relationship between these behaviors and students’ connections with their schools. The results showed that: (1) The potential profiles of problematic social media usage and intentional self-regulation among college students can be divided into three categories: low-dependent-high-regulatory type, moderate-dependent-moderate-regulatory type, and high-dependent-low-regulatory type. (2) There were significant differences between different genders, grade levels, and whether students were only children, across these potential categories. (3) Using the low-dependent-high-regulatory type as a reference group, college students who received little support from teachers were more likely to belong to the high-dependent-low-regulatory type and the moderate-dependent-moderate-regulatory type.