Linking Self-Concealment to Problematic Short Video Use: Online Social Support and Fear of Missing out as a Serial Mediator

The prevalence of short videos among college students has transformed them into a significant aspect of their daily lives. However, the extent of problematic short video usage remains an underexplored area. The current study aims to examine the relation between self-concealment and problematic short video use among students, and the mediating mechanisms of fear of missing out and online social support. A total of 718 college students took part in this survey. All participants completed the Self-Concealment Scale, Fear of Missing Out Scale, Online Social Support Questionnaire, and Short Video Addiction Scale. The results showed significant positive interrelations among self-concealment, fear of missing out, online social support, and problematic short video use (all correlation coefficients ranging from 0.12 to 0.60, ps < 0.001). Structural equation modeling demonstrated that fear of missing out mediated the relation between self-concealment and problematic short video use (indirect effect = 1.97, 95% CI [1.36, 3.12]), and a significant serial mediation of online social support and fear of missing out was also valid (indirect effect = 0.05, 95% CI [0.01, 0.16]). The findings enhance our understanding of the association between self-concealment and problematic short video use and its potential mechanisms, which will help to better understand the causes of problematic short video use among college students. It also provides a useful reference to guide people in using the internet reasonably and to prevent and intervene in the problematic use of short videos.