Mediated roles of generalized trust and perceived social support in the effects of problematic social media use on mental health: A cross-sectional study
Lin CY, Namdar P, Griffiths MD, Pakpour AH
Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 45 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cross-sectional study (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- University or hospital
- Qazvin University of Medical Sciences
Based on 1 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2020-11-30 · Health Expect · vol. 24 · issue 1 · pp. 165–173
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Cited
- 83 citations · more than 98% of similar papers · 10.7× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 56 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Mental Health via Writing · Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- social media addiction, generalized trust, perceived social support, mental health, happiness, depression, anxiety, psychological quality of life, mediation
- MeSH
- humans, cross-sectional studies, depression, anxiety, trust, mental health, quality of life, social support, adult, iran, female, social media
4 authors
From TW, IR, GB, SE
- Chung‐Ying LinNational Cheng Kung University Hospital; National Cheng Kung University
- Peyman NamdarQazvin University of Medical Sciences
- Mark Damian GriffithsNottingham Trent University
- Amir H. Pakpour · correspondingQazvin University of Medical Sciences; Jönköping University
Abstract
Background
Current literature lacks evidence concerning how problematic social media use associates with mental health. To address the gap, the present study used mediation models to examine whether generalized trust and perceived social support (PSS) are potential mediators in the relationship between problematic social media use and mental health.
Methods
The sample comprised Iranian adults (n = 1073; 614 females). The participants completed a number of scales to assess problematic social media use (Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale), generalized trust (Generalized Trust Scale), PSS (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, happiness (Oxford Happiness Questionnaire Short Form), depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and mental quality of life (Short Form-12).
Results
Problematic social media use had negative effects on happiness and mental quality of life via the mediators of generalized trust (bootstrapping SE = 0.017; effect = -0.041; 95% CI = -0.079, -0.012) and PSS (bootstrapping SE = 0.023; effect = -0.163; 95% CI = -0.211, -0.119). Problematic social media use had positive effects on anxiety and depression via the mediators of generalized trust (bootstrapping SE = 0.022; effect = 0.064; 95% CI = 0.026, 0.113) and PSS (bootstrapping SE = 0.024; effect = 0.052; 95% CI = 0.009, 0.102).
Conclusions
Problematic social media use, generalized trust and PSS are important factors for an individual's mental health. Health-care providers may want to assist individuals regardless of having mental health problems in reducing their problematic social media use and improving their generalized trust and social support.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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