SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND ADDICTION AND COGNITIVE FLEXIBILITY

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 29 Sayı: 4, 829 - 848, 19.12.2025

Başak Polat , Zehra Allahverdi

https://doi.org/10.53487/atasobed.1621897

Öz

This systematic review aims to explore the relationship between social media attitudes, usage, addiction, and cognitive flexibility. While social media has become an integral part of modern life, concerns over problematic usage and its psychological consequences have increased. Cognitive flexibility, defined as the ability to adapt to changing situations and generate alternative solutions, plays a crucial role in self-regulation and mental well being. This systematic review included 10 empirical studies that assessed the relationship between cognitive flexibility and various dimensions of social media use, including attitudes, problematic usage, and addiction. Findings suggest that lower cognitive flexibility is associated with higher levels of social media use, and higher social media use is linked to reduced cognitive flexibility. However, the cross-sectional nature of the studies limits causal interpretation. Drawing on Cognitive Load Theory and Cognitive Behavioral Theory, the review highlights that excessive and unregulated use of social media may be related to cognitive resources, while greater cognitive flexibility may act as a buffer against problematic use. Future research should adopt longitudinal and experimental designs to better understand the direction and mechanisms of this relationship. Understanding how cognitive flexibility interacts with social media behavior
can inform preventive and educational interventions, particularly among young users.

Anahtar Kelimeler

cognitive flexibility , social media use , social media addiction , cognitive load

SOSYAL MEDYA KULLANIMI VE BAĞIMLILIĞI İLE BİLİŞSEL ESNEKLİK ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN SİSTEMATİK İNCELENMESİ

Öz

Bu sistematik derleme, sosyal medya tutumları, kullanımı, bağımlılığı ve bilişsel esneklik arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Sosyal medya modern yaşamın ayrılmaz bir parçası hâline gelmişken, problemli kullanımı ve bunun psikolojik sonuçlarına dair endişeler de artmıştır. Değişen durumlara uyum sağlama ve alternatif çözümler üretebilme kapasitesi olarak tanımlanan bilişsel esneklik, öz düzenleme ve zihinsel iyi oluş açısından kritik bir rol oynamaktadır. Bu sistematik derlemede, bilişsel esneklik ile sosyal medya kullanımı (tutum, problemli kullanım ve bağımlılık boyutları dâhil) arasındaki ilişkiyi değerlendiren 10 ampirik çalışma incelenmiştir. Bulgular, düşük bilişsel esnekliğin daha yüksek düzeyde sosyal medya kullanımıyla ilişkili olduğunu, ayrıca sosyal medya kullanım düzeyi arttıkça bilişsel esnekliğin azaldığını göstermektedir. Ancak, çalışmaların kesitsel doğası, nedensel yorum yapmayı kısıtlamaktadır. Bilişsel Yük Kuramı ve Bilişsel Davranışçı Kuram’dan yararlanarak yapılan yorumlarda, aşırı ve düzensiz sosyal medya kullanımının bilişsel kaynaklarla ilişkili olabileceği, yüksek bilişsel esnekliğin ise problemli kullanıma karşı koruyucu bir rol oynayabileceği vurgulanmaktadır. Gelecek araştırmalarda, bu ilişkinin yönünü ve mekanizmalarını daha iyi anlamak amacıyla boylamsal ve deneysel desenlerin tercih edilmesi önerilmektedir. Bilişsel
esnekliğin sosyal medya davranışlarıyla nasıl etkileştiğini anlamak, özellikle genç kullanıcılar için koruyucu ve eğitsel müdahalelerin geliştirilmesine katkı sağlayabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

bilişsel esneklik , sosyal medya kullanımı , sosyal medya bağımlılığı , bilişsel yük

Kaynakça

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