Women are more likely than men to develop signs of social media addiction, and the difference appears to be driven largely by how platforms are used to cope with stress and negative emotions. New research suggests that the reasons people turn to Instagram, Facebook or similar sites may matter more than previously thought when it comes to mental health risks. The findings add weight to growing concerns about anxiety, low mood and compulsive social media use among adults.
The study, published in Alpha Psychiatry, analysed responses from 300 adults in South Korea, evenly split between men and women, with an average age of 39. Participants completed a detailed questionnaire measuring eight different social media use motives, alongside a widely used scale of social media addiction that captures symptoms such as craving, withdrawal and loss of control .
Women reported significantly higher levels of social media addiction than men. Overall addiction scores ranged from 6–30, with higher scores indicating greater risk, and the average score in the sample was 14.70. The difference between men and women remained statistically significant even after accounting for age and multiple psychological factors.
Researchers then examined why this gap might exist. Of the eight motives measured, women scored higher on four: seeking information, enhancing positive emotions, coping with negative feelings and using social media as a pastime. But only one of these motives clearly explained the higher addiction risk.
Coping motives, defined as using social media to reduce stress, anxiety or low mood, emerged as the key mediator. When coping was taken into account, much of the difference in addiction scores between men and women could be statistically explained. Other motives, such as using social media for enjoyment or to pass the time, were linked to addiction but did not remain significant once corrections for multiple comparisons were applied.
In practical terms, this suggests that women may be more vulnerable to problematic social media use not simply because they use it more, but because they are more likely to rely on it to manage difficult emotions. The pattern aligns with broader evidence that women report higher rates of depression and anxiety, and may face social expectations around emotional regulation that limit open expression offline.
The study also found that social media addiction was positively associated with all eight use motives, with the strongest links observed for coping and related emotionally driven reasons. This supports the idea that behavioural addiction to social networking sites shares features with other compulsive behaviours, including mood modification, tolerance and relapse.
Although the research was cross sectional and cannot prove cause and effect, it highlights a potential target for prevention. Rather than focusing solely on screen time limits, interventions could address emotion regulation skills, stress management and alternative coping strategies, particularly for women experiencing mental health pressures.
With an estimated 5.41 billion people worldwide using social media in 2025, and average daily use exceeding two hours, understanding who is most at risk is increasingly urgent. As debates continue about mental health apps, digital well-being and the impact of social networking on anxiety in adults, this study suggests that the emotional reasons behind scrolling may be as important as the hours spent online.