Relationship between Social Media Use and Social Anxiety in College Students

Mediation Effect of Communication Capacity

Bibliographic Data

ID15458965
AuthorsFengxia Lai (0000-0003-3654-9006, Soochow University), Lihong Wang (0009-0002-7085-301X, Soochow University), Li-Hong Wang (0000-0001-9915-8868, Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China), Jiyin Zhang (Soochow University), Shengnan Shan (Soochow University), Jing Chen (0000-0002-7243-0806, Soochow University), Li Tian (0000-0003-2141-781X, Soochow University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume20
Issue4
Pages3657-3657
Publication date2023-02-18
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph20043657
PMID36834357
OpenAlexW4321374454
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited58

An increasing number of college students are experiencing social anxiety in an era of prevalent social networking. College students' social anxiety may be related to their social media use. However, this relationship has not been confirmed. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between different types of social media use and social anxiety among college students, and the mediation effects of communication capacity in this context. A large sample of 1740 students from seven colleges in China was analyzed. Bivariate correlation and structural equations analysis showed that passive social media use was positively correlated with social anxiety. Active social media use was negatively correlated with social anxiety. Communication capacity partially mediated the relationship between social media use (passive/active) and social anxiety. Active social media use may reduce social anxiety by positively mediating communication capacity, while improved communication capacity may reduce the contribution of passive use to social anxiety. The differences in the effects of different social media use on social anxiety deserve the attention of educators. Developing communication capacity education around college students may help reduce their social anxiety

Anxiety · Context (archaeology · Developmental psychology · Mediation · Political science · Social anxiety · Social media · Social science · Sociology · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology

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