Longitudinal Associations of Active Versus Passive TikTok Use with Depression: A Chain Mediation Model of Autistic Traits and Self-Esteem
Li H, Xu X, Mao C, Liu Q
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 0 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cohort study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Government
- Guangdong Office of Philosophy and Social Science
- Government
- National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences
- University or hospital
- Hubei Engineering University
- University or hospital
- Public Culture Research Center of the Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of Universities in Hubei Province
- Government
- Guangdong Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Science
- Grants
- Guangdong Office of Philosophy and Social Science (GD20CXL05); National Natural Science Foundation of China (21FMZB011)
Based on 6 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2026-07-29 · Behav Sci (Basel) · vol. 16 · issue 8 · p. 1296
- Publisher
- Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
- Cited
- 0 citations · more than 70% of similar papers · 0.0× the field average
- References
- 0 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Child Development and Digital Technology · Media Influence and Health
- Keywords
- TikTok, depression, autistic traits, self-esteem, short video platforms, university students, serial mediation, social media and mental health
4 authors
From CN
- Hongwei LiHenan Normal University
- Xiao-Pan Xu · correspondingCentral China Normal University; Henan Normal University
- Cheng Mao
- Qingqi LiuBeijing Normal University; Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai
Abstract
The global popularity of short-form video applications such as TikTok has increased rapidly. However, longitudinal evidence on how distinct usage patterns affect mental health outcomes, particularly depression, remains limited. The present study investigated whether active versus passive TikTok use differentially predicts depression through the mediating roles of autistic traits and self-esteem. A three-wave longitudinal survey was conducted in China at six-month intervals. A total of 590 university students (aged 17-24 years) completed questionnaires assessing active/passive TikTok use and depression at Time 1 (T1), autistic traits and self-esteem at Time 2 (T2), and depression again at Time 3 (T3). Mediation analyses were performed using PROCESS macro (Model 6), controlling for gender, age, daily TikTok usage time, and T1 depression. Active TikTok use indirectly predicted lower depression through increased self-esteem, but not through autistic traits. In contrast, passive TikTok use predicted higher depression via three distinct pathways: through elevated autistic traits, through reduced self-esteem, and through the serial mediation of autistic traits leading to reduced self-esteem. Active and passive TikTok use exhibit divergent longitudinal associations with depression, mediated by distinct socio-cognitive mechanisms. These findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between usage modes when evaluating the mental health implications of short-video platforms.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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