“IT MIGHT BE LONELIER/WITHOUT THE LONELINESS”. SOLITARY EXPERIENCES AND PROBLEMATIC SOCIAL MEDIA USE IN YOUNG ADULTS

Social media are deeply embedded in young adults’ everyday lives, offering numerous benefits for communication and social connection. However, a subset of these users may develop a problematic social media use (PSMU), which has been associated with psychological vulnerabilities and negative outcomes. For instance, PSMU has often been linked to loneliness; however, solitary experiences encompass subjective (both negative, such as loneliness, and positive, such as positive solitude) and objective (e.g., social isolation) dimensions that may interact differently in shaping PSMU. Given the fragmented literature on this topic, this doctoral thesis presents a systematic review to synthesize existing evidence and identify scientific gaps. To address these gaps, the Italian validation of the Positive Solitude Scale and three empirical studies were conducted to examine how specific solitary experiences shape vulnerability or resilience to PSMU. The results support a multidimensional understanding of solitary experiences, informing prevention, education, and clinical interventions for young adults at risk of PSMU.