Polymorphic social media addiction and psychosomatic risks in individuals with elevated anxiety, Поліморфна соціально-мережева залежність і психосоматичні ризики в осіб із підвищеною тривожністю

<jats:p>Background. The relevance of social media addiction research is determined by rapid digitalization and the increasing integration of social networking platforms into the everyday lives of adolescents and young adults. During sensitive developmental periods of identity and self-esteem formation, this integration significantly increases the risk of polymorphic social media addiction with adverse psychological consequences. The aim of the study is to provide a theoretical justification and empirical investigation of polymorphic social media addiction as a psychological phenomenon and to determine its impact on psychosomatic risks in individuals with elevated levels of anxiety, as well as to identify the key psychological mechanisms underlying the development of addictive behavior and related psychosomatic health disorders. Materials and methods. A comprehensive battery of psychodiagnostic instruments (BSMAS, IAT, FOMO, DERS, INCOM, and DASS-21) was employed to provide a multidimensional assessment of social media addiction, capturing its behavioral, emotional, cognitive, motivational components, and also associations between addictive behavior, increased anxiety and psychosomatic risks. In line with DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria, individuals with elevated anxiety levels, predominantly adolescents and university students, were classified as a high-risk group. The pilot study was conducted at the University Clinic of the Vinnytsia National Pirogov Memorial Medical University (clinical, educational, and research center). Results and conclusions. The results of the study indicate that polymorphic social media addiction has a systemic nature and encompasses behavioral, emotional, cognitive, motivational, physiological, and social levels of persona­lity functioning. The identified profile of clinical well-being indicators substantiates the relevance of early diagnosis, prevention, and comprehensive psychocorrective interventions, particularly among adolescents and young people as high-risk groups. The empirical findings confirm that adolescents demonstrate greater vulnerability to polymorphic social media addiction, whereas among university students, the overall level of susceptibility is lower, but it still requires attention due to the existing stress background and the potential for professional-related online overinvolvement.</jats:p>