The Moderated Mediating Effects of Social Media Identity and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use and Mental Health in China: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study
BackgroundMental health disorders are a major public health challenge, and problematic internet use (PIU) may play an important role in this issue. However, the underlying mechanisms of PIU and its effects on mental health have not yet been elucidated. ObjectiveTh...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e57907 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849722043764834304 |
|---|---|
| author | Chenxi Liu Yushu Liu Chaojie Liu Rujiao Lin Xi Wang Xinyi Zhang Yibo Wu Dan Wang |
| author_facet | Chenxi Liu Yushu Liu Chaojie Liu Rujiao Lin Xi Wang Xinyi Zhang Yibo Wu Dan Wang |
| author_sort | Chenxi Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundMental health disorders are a major public health challenge, and problematic internet use (PIU) may play an important role in this issue. However, the underlying mechanisms of PIU and its effects on mental health have not yet been elucidated.
ObjectiveThis study examines the mediating effect of loneliness on the relationship between PIU and mental health, as well as the moderating effect of social media identity on the relationships among PIU, loneliness, and mental health.
MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 21,292 participants recruited using a multistage stratified sampling strategy from 31 provinces/regions in mainland China from June 20 to August 31, 2022. This study assesses PIU (PIU questionnaire-short form-6), depression (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]), anxiety (7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]), loneliness (3-item loneliness scale), and social media identity (identity bubble reinforcement scale). Additionally, we collected the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. Participants whose total score of PHQ-9≥15 or total score of GAD-7≥10 were considered to have moderate or severe symptoms of depression or anxiety, respectively. A moderated mediation model was established to examine the mediating effect of loneliness on the association between PIU and mental health outcomes (depression and anxiety), moderated by social media identity.
ResultsApproximately 22.80% (4854/21,292) and 14.20% (3023/21,292) of the respondents reported moderate or severe symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. Loneliness significantly mediated the association between PIU and mental health outcomes, explaining 42.53% and 45.48% of the total effect of PIU on depression and anxiety, respectively. Social media identity significantly moderated the associations between PIU and depression (β=0.002, 95% CI 0.001-0.002), PIU and anxiety (β=0.001, 95% CI 0.000-0.002), loneliness and depression (β=0.010, 95% CI 0.007-0.013), and loneliness and anxiety (β=0.007, 95% CI 0.004-0.010), but not between PIU and loneliness (β=0.000, 95% CI –0.003 to 0.003). Higher levels of social media identity were significantly associated with lower levels of loneliness (β=–0.018, 95% CI –0.020 to –0.016).
ConclusionsAddressing loneliness may serve as a valuable approach to mitigate the impact of PIU on mental health outcomes. However, social media identity poses a significant challenge in addressing health issues linked to PIU. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1397fb3c187345a9b8bb52ac368b57cd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-1397fb3c187345a9b8bb52ac368b57cd2025-08-20T03:11:29ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712025-02-0127e5790710.2196/57907The Moderated Mediating Effects of Social Media Identity and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use and Mental Health in China: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Questionnaire StudyChenxi Liuhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0567-8032Yushu Liuhttps://orcid.org/0009-0003-7794-2872Chaojie Liuhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0877-0424Rujiao Linhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3683-8855Xi Wanghttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-5703-9372Xinyi Zhanghttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-7627-8820Yibo Wuhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9607-313XDan Wanghttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7384-7542 BackgroundMental health disorders are a major public health challenge, and problematic internet use (PIU) may play an important role in this issue. However, the underlying mechanisms of PIU and its effects on mental health have not yet been elucidated. ObjectiveThis study examines the mediating effect of loneliness on the relationship between PIU and mental health, as well as the moderating effect of social media identity on the relationships among PIU, loneliness, and mental health. MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 21,292 participants recruited using a multistage stratified sampling strategy from 31 provinces/regions in mainland China from June 20 to August 31, 2022. This study assesses PIU (PIU questionnaire-short form-6), depression (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]), anxiety (7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]), loneliness (3-item loneliness scale), and social media identity (identity bubble reinforcement scale). Additionally, we collected the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. Participants whose total score of PHQ-9≥15 or total score of GAD-7≥10 were considered to have moderate or severe symptoms of depression or anxiety, respectively. A moderated mediation model was established to examine the mediating effect of loneliness on the association between PIU and mental health outcomes (depression and anxiety), moderated by social media identity. ResultsApproximately 22.80% (4854/21,292) and 14.20% (3023/21,292) of the respondents reported moderate or severe symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. Loneliness significantly mediated the association between PIU and mental health outcomes, explaining 42.53% and 45.48% of the total effect of PIU on depression and anxiety, respectively. Social media identity significantly moderated the associations between PIU and depression (β=0.002, 95% CI 0.001-0.002), PIU and anxiety (β=0.001, 95% CI 0.000-0.002), loneliness and depression (β=0.010, 95% CI 0.007-0.013), and loneliness and anxiety (β=0.007, 95% CI 0.004-0.010), but not between PIU and loneliness (β=0.000, 95% CI –0.003 to 0.003). Higher levels of social media identity were significantly associated with lower levels of loneliness (β=–0.018, 95% CI –0.020 to –0.016). ConclusionsAddressing loneliness may serve as a valuable approach to mitigate the impact of PIU on mental health outcomes. However, social media identity poses a significant challenge in addressing health issues linked to PIU.https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e57907 |
| spellingShingle | Chenxi Liu Yushu Liu Chaojie Liu Rujiao Lin Xi Wang Xinyi Zhang Yibo Wu Dan Wang The Moderated Mediating Effects of Social Media Identity and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use and Mental Health in China: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | The Moderated Mediating Effects of Social Media Identity and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use and Mental Health in China: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study |
| title_full | The Moderated Mediating Effects of Social Media Identity and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use and Mental Health in China: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study |
| title_fullStr | The Moderated Mediating Effects of Social Media Identity and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use and Mental Health in China: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Moderated Mediating Effects of Social Media Identity and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use and Mental Health in China: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study |
| title_short | The Moderated Mediating Effects of Social Media Identity and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use and Mental Health in China: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study |
| title_sort | moderated mediating effects of social media identity and loneliness on the relationship between problematic internet use and mental health in china nationwide cross sectional questionnaire study |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e57907 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chenxiliu themoderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT yushuliu themoderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT chaojieliu themoderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT rujiaolin themoderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT xiwang themoderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT xinyizhang themoderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT yibowu themoderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT danwang themoderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT chenxiliu moderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT yushuliu moderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT chaojieliu moderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT rujiaolin moderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT xiwang moderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT xinyizhang moderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT yibowu moderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy AT danwang moderatedmediatingeffectsofsocialmediaidentityandlonelinessontherelationshipbetweenproblematicinternetuseandmentalhealthinchinanationwidecrosssectionalquestionnairestudy |