How do core personality traits influence short video dependence among Chinese college students? Evidence from a serial mediation analysis under the I-PACE model
Zhang J, Ren L, Wu Y, Shi Y, Liu J
Frontiers in psychology · 2 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
- Henan Normal University
- Unclassified
- Strong
- Government
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Grants
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (62477008)
Based on 3 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2026-02-25 · Front Psychol · vol. 17 · p. 1763608
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media
- Cited
- 2 citations · more than 100% of similar papers · 61.2× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 91 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Media Influence and Health · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Personality Traits and Psychology
- Keywords
- fear of missing out, self-efficacy, I-PACE model, university students
5 authors
From CN
- Jin ZhangHenan Normal University
- Lulu RenHenan Normal University
- Yaxin WuHenan Normal University
- Yafei ShiHenan Normal University
- Jinhai Liu · correspondingHenan Normal University
Abstract
Background
With the widespread adoption of short videos, college students have developed an unprecedented level of dependence, posing significant challenges to society. Existing research on short-video dependency (SVD) has primarily focused on behavioral symptoms; however, the role of core personality traits (CPT) and their underlying cognitive-emotional mechanisms in predisposing individuals to SVD remains insufficiently understood.
Objective
This study aims to examine the relationship between CPT and SVD and to clarify the cognitive-emotional pathways underlying this association by extending the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) framework to include perceived self-relatedness (PSR) as an additional mediator.
Methods
Survey data were collected from 825 Chinese undergraduate students. Structural equation modeling was used to test an enhanced serial mediation model incorporating CPT, fear of missing out (FoMO), perceived self-efficacy (PSE), PSR, and SVD.
Results
Core personality trait, FoMO, and PSR were correlated with SVD. In contrast, PSE showed an inconsistent mediation pattern, exhibiting a positive bivariate correlation but a negative indirect effect. FoMO, PSE, and PSR significantly mediate the relationship between CPT and SVD. The identification of this inconsistent mediation provides evidence for dual-process competition in short-video use behavior.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that the risk of SVD is statistically associated with lower levels of FoMO, higher PSE, and regulating exposure to self-relevant content among students. By highlighting the roles of cognitive and emotional factors, this study advances understanding of the antecedents of SVD and offers theoretical and practical implications for future research and intervention strategies.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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