Exploring the relationships between Social Media use and Alcohol/Tobacco consumption among Italian Young Adults

The aim of the study described in this dissertation is to examine the relationships between social media use (SMU) and the consumption of alcohol and tobacco among Italian young adults, while accounting for anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Although numerous studies have demonstrated associations between these variables, the focus of the current study is to further understand how they collectively interact with one another. Data for this study were collected through an anonymous survey, and the final sample consisted of 209 Italian speaking young adults (aged 18-35 years) who currently reside in Italy. We tested for correlations between the variables and the results demonstrated Anxiety to have the highest number of correlations (5), and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder to have the lowest (1). We found positive correlations between SMU and anxiety and depression, and no significant correlations between SMU and alcohol/tobacco consumptions. However, alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking were significantly, and positively, associated together. Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder were not associated with any of the variables, except solely with anxiety. E-cigarette smoking was only correlated with variable of traditional cigarette smoking. The studies that account for relations between the factors that were considered in this study are rather limited, and it is encouraged to direct future research around this area of study.