Impulsivity and its relationships with social media addiction, internet addiction, and smartphone addiction

The relationships between various behavioral addictions and impulsivity have been an issue of concern for researchers. The findings from past studies seem to be consistent on the relationships between social media addiction, internet addiction, smartphone addiction, and impulsivity. However, there are vast limitations in the existing literature concerning these connections. For example, studies examining these links in African samples are almost nonexistent. In addition, studies examining moderator and mediator variables in these relationships are few. Moreover, the varied measures used in the literature makes it difficult to compare findings across studies. This chapter reviewed the literature on the relationships of social media addiction, internet addiction, and smartphone addiction with impulsivity. Gaps in literature are also discussed as well as directions for future research.