Social Media Use and Personal Relative Deprivation Among Urban Residents in China: A Moderated Mediation Model
Personal relative deprivation (PRD) is closely linked to a range of mental health problems. In the digital era, the association between social media use and PRD has received increasing attention. However, most studies have been conducted in Western contexts, and the underlying mechanisms in China re...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/962 |
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| author | Yihua Liu Xiaoge Zhao |
| author_facet | Yihua Liu Xiaoge Zhao |
| author_sort | Yihua Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Personal relative deprivation (PRD) is closely linked to a range of mental health problems. In the digital era, the association between social media use and PRD has received increasing attention. However, most studies have been conducted in Western contexts, and the underlying mechanisms in China remain unclear. This study examined the relationship between social media use and PRD among 2504 adult urban residents in China. Based on relative deprivation theory, it further explored the mediating role of subjective social status and the moderating role of belief in a just world. Results revealed that social media use was negatively associated with PRD. Subjective social status mediated this relationship: social media use was positively associated with subjective social status, while subjective social status was negatively associated with PRD. Moreover, belief in a just world strengthened the direct negative link between social media use and PRD, as well as the positive link between social media use and subjective social status. These findings suggest that social media are not always a risk factor for mental health. Their impact should be considered within specific cultural contexts and regulatory policies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eed6450ff6344cdab00fe992847a3f50 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-eed6450ff6344cdab00fe992847a3f502025-08-20T03:58:30ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-07-0115796210.3390/bs15070962Social Media Use and Personal Relative Deprivation Among Urban Residents in China: A Moderated Mediation ModelYihua Liu0Xiaoge Zhao1Department of Sociology and Psychology, School of Public Administration, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaHNU-ASU International College, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaPersonal relative deprivation (PRD) is closely linked to a range of mental health problems. In the digital era, the association between social media use and PRD has received increasing attention. However, most studies have been conducted in Western contexts, and the underlying mechanisms in China remain unclear. This study examined the relationship between social media use and PRD among 2504 adult urban residents in China. Based on relative deprivation theory, it further explored the mediating role of subjective social status and the moderating role of belief in a just world. Results revealed that social media use was negatively associated with PRD. Subjective social status mediated this relationship: social media use was positively associated with subjective social status, while subjective social status was negatively associated with PRD. Moreover, belief in a just world strengthened the direct negative link between social media use and PRD, as well as the positive link between social media use and subjective social status. These findings suggest that social media are not always a risk factor for mental health. Their impact should be considered within specific cultural contexts and regulatory policies.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/962personal relative deprivationsocial media usesubjective social statusbelief in a just worldurban residents in China |
| spellingShingle | Yihua Liu Xiaoge Zhao Social Media Use and Personal Relative Deprivation Among Urban Residents in China: A Moderated Mediation Model Behavioral Sciences personal relative deprivation social media use subjective social status belief in a just world urban residents in China |
| title | Social Media Use and Personal Relative Deprivation Among Urban Residents in China: A Moderated Mediation Model |
| title_full | Social Media Use and Personal Relative Deprivation Among Urban Residents in China: A Moderated Mediation Model |
| title_fullStr | Social Media Use and Personal Relative Deprivation Among Urban Residents in China: A Moderated Mediation Model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social Media Use and Personal Relative Deprivation Among Urban Residents in China: A Moderated Mediation Model |
| title_short | Social Media Use and Personal Relative Deprivation Among Urban Residents in China: A Moderated Mediation Model |
| title_sort | social media use and personal relative deprivation among urban residents in china a moderated mediation model |
| topic | personal relative deprivation social media use subjective social status belief in a just world urban residents in China |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/962 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yihualiu socialmediauseandpersonalrelativedeprivationamongurbanresidentsinchinaamoderatedmediationmodel AT xiaogezhao socialmediauseandpersonalrelativedeprivationamongurbanresidentsinchinaamoderatedmediationmodel |