The effects of social media addiction on college students' psychological anxiety: the mediating role of self-efficacy and coping styles
Chen J, Yu Z, Yu Z, Ni R, Zhou J, Qu J
Frontiers in psychology · 7 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cross-sectional study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- University or hospital
- Zhejiang Shuren University
Based on 1 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2025-10-28 · Front Psychol · vol. 16 · p. 1676899
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media
- Cited
- 11 citations · more than 99% of similar papers · 21.2× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 36 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Impact of Technology on Adolescents · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Keywords
- social media addiction, anxiety, self-efficacy, coping styles, positive and negative coping, serial mediation, social comparison, doomscrolling, Chinese university students, university mental health, digital well-being
8 authors
From CN
- Jing ChenZhejiang Shuren University
- Zihan Yu · correspondingZhejiang Shuren University; Hangzhou Dianzi University
- Zihan YuZhejiang Shuren University; Hangzhou Dianzi University
- Zekai Yu · correspondingZhejiang Shuren University; Hangzhou Dianzi University
- Zekai YuZhejiang Shuren University; Hangzhou Dianzi University
- Ruiyang NiInner Mongolia University of Science and Technology; Zhejiang Shuren University
Abstract
Background
Social media addiction (SMA) has emerged as a significant mental health concern among Chinese college students, particularly within the context of intense academic competition and collectivist cultural pressures. While the direct relationship between SMA and psychological anxiety is well-documented, the underlying psychological mechanisms remain poorly understood.
Objective
This study investigated the complex pathways through which social media addiction influences psychological anxiety among Chinese college students, with particular focus on the mediating roles of self-efficacy and coping styles within China's unique cultural and educational context.
Methods
Using stratified random sampling, 615 valid responses were collected from Chinese college students across different university types and geographic regions (response rate: 92.86%). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the relationships between SMA, self-efficacy, coping styles (positive and negative), and psychological anxiety. The quantitative analysis was supplemented with semi-structured interviews of 25 participants to provide contextual insights into the identified mechanisms.
Results
The study found that social media anxiety (SMA) directly increases anxiety (β = 0.78, p β = -0.73, p < 0.001), which accounts for 23% of the total effect, and promoting negative coping strategies while undermining positive ones, contributing 20.32%. A chain mediation pathway where SMA reduces self-efficacy, affecting coping strategies, amplifies anxiety by 17%. Qualitatively, 72% reported social comparison-induced self-worth erosion, and 68% engaged in "doomscrolling," creating anxiety cycles.
Conclusion
This study provides robust evidence for a multi-pathway model linking social media addiction to psychological anxiety among Chinese college students. SMA's effects go beyond direct impacts, disrupting key psychological defenses like self-efficacy and adaptive coping. The chain mediation effect exposes a concerning sequential psychological erosion, especially given the sample's high baseline anxiety (mean SAS = 63.08). These findings emphasize the need for holistic interventions targeting addiction, boosting self-efficacy, and fostering adaptive coping. They also highlight the importance of university mental health services and digital wellness programs in tackling the escalating mental health challenges faced by digitally immersed students.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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