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Exploring the Associations between Social Media Addiction and Depression: Attentional Bias as a Mediator and Socio-Emotional Competence as a Moderator

Author

Listed:
  • Wen Xiao

    (Teacher Education School, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China)

  • Jiaxin Peng

    (Teacher Education School, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China)

  • Suqun Liao

    (Teacher Education School, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China)

Abstract

Social media is used daily by a significant number of young people and can have an important influence on the well-being of its users. The aim of this study was to determine the motives for social media use among Chinese youth and whether social media addiction associates with depression. Another objective was to analyze possible mediating and moderating effects in explaining the association between social media addiction and depression. Participants were 1652 secondary school students (51.5% boys and 48.5% girls) aged 12–18 years in China. The results showed that attention bias mediated the association between social media addiction and depression when adolescents’ socio-emotional competencies were low, but not as strong when their socio-emotional competencies were high. The findings not only provided theoretical support for preventing the negative effects of mobile social media addiction, but could also directly contribute to improving adolescents’ quality of life.

Suggested Citation

  • Wen Xiao & Jiaxin Peng & Suqun Liao, 2022. "Exploring the Associations between Social Media Addiction and Depression: Attentional Bias as a Mediator and Socio-Emotional Competence as a Moderator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13496-:d:946496
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kati Puukko & Lauri Hietajärvi & Erika Maksniemi & Kimmo Alho & Katariina Salmela-Aro, 2020. "Social Media Use and Depressive Symptoms—A Longitudinal Study from Early to Late Adolescence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Juan Hou & Yamikani Ndasauka & Yingying Jiang & Zi Ye & Ying Wang & Lizhuang Yang & Xiaoming Li & Yongjun Zhang & Liangjun Pang & Yan Kong & Fei Xu & Xiaochu Zhang, 2017. "Excessive use of WeChat, social interaction and locus of control among college students in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, August.
    3. Montserrat Peris & Usue de la Barrera & Konstanze Schoeps & Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla, 2020. "Psychological Risk Factors that Predict Social Networking and Internet Addiction in Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-23, June.
    4. Chun Chen & Chunyan Yang & Qian Nie, 2021. "Social-Emotional Learning Competencies and Problematic Internet Use among Chinese Adolescents: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-17, March.
    5. Best, Paul & Manktelow, Roger & Taylor, Brian, 2014. "Online communication, social media and adolescent wellbeing: A systematic narrative review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 27-36.
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    Cited by:

    1. María Ángeles García-Gil & Francisco-Ignacio Revuelta-Domínguez & María-Inmaculada Pedrera-Rodríguez & Jorge Guerra-Antequera, 2023. "Exploring Video Game Engagement, Social–Emotional Development, and Adolescent Well-Being for Sustainable Health and Quality Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.

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