Mindfulness in the age of the infinite scroll – Relationship between mindfulness, social media flow, addictive social media use and mental health: A longitudinal study
Sophia Brämig, Julia Brailovskaia
Computers in Human Behavior October 30, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2026.109242 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational longitudinal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 282 |
| Population | Adults in Germany completing online surveys |
| Duration | Baseline and four-week follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Higher baseline mindfulness predicted higher positive mental health and lower depression symptoms four weeks later. Mindfulness negatively predicted social media flow and addictive social media use, and flow positively predicted addictive use. Two significant indirect pathways linked mindfulness to better mental health: via reduced addictive social media use, and sequentially via reduced flow and then lower addictive use, consistent with partial serial mediation. |
Abstract
This study examined whether the association between mindfulness and mental health outcomes is mediated via social media (SM) flow and addictive social media use (SMU). Participants from Germany (N = 282) completed online surveys at baseline (BL) and at a four-week follow-up (FU). Mindfulness, SM flow, and addictive SMU were assessed at baseline; positive mental health (PMH) and symptoms of depression were assessed at FU. Serial mediation was tested with PROCESS (Model 6). Higher mindfulness at BL predicted higher PMH and lower symptoms of depression at FU. At BL, mindfulness negatively predicted SM flow and addictive SMU; SM flow positively predicted addictive SMU. Consistent with partial serial mediation, mindfulness predicted improved mental health outcomes in PMH and symptoms of depression through two significant indirect pathways: one via reduced addictive SMU and a sequential one via reduced SM flow and subsequently lower addictive SMU. The findings suggest that mindfulness could be a protective factor for mental health by reducing SM flow experiences and, in turn, addictive SMU.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Loving-Kindness Meditation Promotes Mental Health in University Students Mindfulness May 2, 2020
- Lower Mindfulness is Associated with Problematic Social Media Use: A Meta-Analysis Current Psychology March 30, 2023
- Mindfulness as a mediator in the relationship between social media engagement and depression in young adults Personality and Individual Differences February 1, 2022