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Mobile video viewing and mental health: Nonlinear evidence from a large-scale Chinese household survey

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  • Bi, Qingmiao
  • Lin, Jianhao
  • Sha, Wenbiao
  • Zhu, Xiaoyu (Ross)

Abstract

Despite a large literature on the interplay between social media and mental health, studies on mobile video are limited. We provide empirical evidence on the associations between mobile video viewing and mental health using large-scale, nationally representative survey data from China. We document that, using those who do not use mobile devices to access the internet as a reference group, the associations between occasional mobile video viewing (and also accessing the internet via mobile devices without watching mobile video) and mental health are positive (i.e., less depression and more life satisfaction), whereas the associations are reversed and become negative for daily mobile video viewers, resulting in a non-linear relationship between mobile video viewing intensity and mental health status; and daily viewers are worse off compared to all other groups. Heterogeneous results show that the non-linear relationship does not appear to hold for adolescents and current students, who would be worse off regardless of whether they watch mobile video occasionally or daily. Our findings highlight the importance of mobile video for mental health status in the digital age.

Suggested Citation

  • Bi, Qingmiao & Lin, Jianhao & Sha, Wenbiao & Zhu, Xiaoyu (Ross), 2026. "Mobile video viewing and mental health: Nonlinear evidence from a large-scale Chinese household survey," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 1447-1468.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:91:y:2026:i:c:p:1447-1468
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eap.2026.05.009
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    JEL classification:

    • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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