Bin Zhang

The social media’s dissemination of norms for body shape is progressively shaping individual perceptions and behaviors. Social media plays a key role

During the college transition, many students undergo rapid changes in the frequency and patterns of social media use, while also facing sudden challenges in adapting to the new interpersonal environment. However, it remains unclear how social media use intensity and social media use problems are temporally related to interpersonal adaptation during this important stage of development. This study conducted a 30-day intensive longitudinal design to explore the fine-grained temporal relationships between social media use intensity, social media use problems, and interpersonal adaptation, as well as the intensive mediating role of upward social comparison during the first month of the college transition. The sample comprised 317 first-year college students in China (71.8% female; M_age = 18.16 years, SD = 0.65). Participants completed daily reports over a 30-day intensive tracking period, with data collected each evening between 8:30 and 9:00 PM. Multilevel residual dynamic structural equation modeling revealed that both social media use intensity and social media use problems on the previous day significantly, negatively predicted interpersonal adaptation on the following day during the college transition. Additionally, upward social comparison played an intensive mediating role in the temporal relationship between social media use problems and interpersonal adaptation. These findings offer important insights into how social media use at a fine-grained temporal level influences interpersonal adaptation during the college transition, informing strategies to support first-year students' adjustment.

Background and aims: Researchers have suggested that subtypes of problematic social media use (PSMU) should be identified for purposes of prevention and intervention. However, most studies have overlooked the heterogeneous characteristics of PSMU trajectories, and no research has systematically examined which interpersonal factors could predict these trajectories. In the present study, we identified classes of developmental trajectories of PSMU and examined differences across classes in adolescents' interpersonal functioning in family, school, and peer contexts. Methods: Participants were 357 Chinese adolescents enrolled in two middle schools in China (52.1% girls, aged 12–15 years). The students completed questionnaires in their classrooms over the course of one year in a three-wave longitudinal study. Results: Latent growth mixture modeling (LGMM) revealed three developmental trajectory classes of PSMU based on the intercepts and slopes of PSMU scores over time: high risk-gradual increase group (37%), low risk-sharp increase group (39%), and low risk-stable group (24%). Parent-adolescent attachment (family context), teacher-student relationships (school context), and deviant peer affiliation (peer context) were associated with variations in developmental trajectories. Conclusions: The findings can inform the design of prevention and intervention programs for specific subgroups of adolescents who show problematic social media use.

Purpose: Given the prevalence of the fear of missing out (FoMO) phenomenon and the limitations regarding understanding the relationship between social media use and FoMO, this research examines the links that bind different types of social media usage to different aspects of FoMO. Methods: In the scope of this research, a structural equation modeling was developed to investigate the intricate connections that exist between active social media use (ASMU), passive social media use (PSMU), online-specific state-FoMO, and general trait-FoMO. Data were obtained from 394 Chinese university students (65% female) with experience in social media who completed the Active Social Media Use Scale, Passive Social Media Use Scale, and the Chinese Trait-State Fear of Missing Out Scale. Results: Bivariate correlations analysis revealed that ASMU was significantly related with state-FoMO but not significantly related with trait-FoMO. Structural equation modeling revealed that ASMU had a significant direct negative predictive effect on trait-FoMO while positive association with trait-FoMO through the indirect effect of State-FoMO, illustrating that ASMU had a suppressing effect on trait-FoMO via state-FoMO. PSMU significantly moderated the direct effect of ASMU on trait-FoMO, and the direct effect was only significant at low levels of PSMU. Conclusion: This study revealed whether and how social media use is linked to FoMO. Social media may not always increase FoMO, because positive, active social media interactions are conducive to the alleviation of trait-FoMO. However, it is significant to note that active interactions may also predict higher state-FoMO, so moderate social media use needs to be encouraged. In addition, a reduction in passive, non-communicative information browsing would be conducive to the alleviation of trait-FoMO by ASMU.

Objective: According to the General Strain Theory, stress can lead to a range of problem behaviors. In the current study, we focused on the association between perceived stress and mobile phone addiction. We hypothesized that this association is mediated by low self-control and that the first path of the mediation is moderated by security.Methods: College students (N = 397; ages 16–21; 51.89% females) from a university in Hunan Province, China, were surveyed by cluster sampling method. The students completed the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Self-Control Scale (SCS), and the Security Questionnaire (SQ) during regular class time. SPSS26.0 statistical software was used for descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analyses, the SPSS macro PROCESS was used to test the mediating effects of self-control and the moderating role of security.Results: Mediation analysis showed that as expected, perceived stress was associated with lower self-control, which in turn was associated with a higher risk for mobile phone addiction. Also as expected, moderated mediation analysis indicated that the association between perceived stress and self-control was moderated by security. Specifically, the relationship between perceived stress and self-control was stronger for low security.Conclusion: This study provides useful insight into the understanding of how perceived stress increases the risk of mobile phone addiction. The results are consistent with the General Strain Theory and further indicate that concrete approaches are required for the prevention and intervention to reduce mobile phone addiction among college students.

Purpose: With the widespread use of the Internet and mobile phone, cyberbullying has become a new type of bullying among adolescents. It is of great practical significance to explore the relevant factors affecting cyberbullying for prevention and intervention of adolescents’ cyberbullying. However, few studies have considered the effect of both the family and social factors on cyberbullying. Therefore, the current study examines whether the parent-adolescent conflict as a family factor and deviant peer affiliation as a social factor have an effect on adolescents’ cyberbullying, as well as the role of moral disengagement and gender. Methods: A total of 777 middle school students (females = 336; mean age = 13.57; SD = 0.98) were surveyed by using the Parent-child Relationship Questionnaire, Deviant Peer Affiliation Questionnaire, Moral Disengagement Questionnaire and Cyber Bullying Behavior Questionnaire. SPSS21.0 was used to conduct descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and T-test, PROCESS were used to conduct significance test of moderated mediation effect on the data. Results: Parent-adolescent conflict does not directly predict cyberbullying. Moral disengagement played a complete mediating role between parent-adolescent conflict and cyberbullying, and gender played a moderating role between moral disengagement and cyberbullying. Deviant peer affiliation directly predict cyberbullying. Moral disengagement played a partially mediating role between parent-adolescent conflict and cyberbullying, and gender played a moderating role between moral disengagement and cyberbullying. Conclusion: Attention should be paid to the effect of moral disengagement on cyberbullying in family and social factors, as well as the role of gender.