The impact of active social network sites use on depression: analyzing the sequential mediating role of social support and loneliness

Abstract

With the continuous development of the modern information society, social networking sites are increasingly becoming an important part of people’s daily lives. The relationship between college students’ mental health and online behavior needs more research. This study investigated the multiple roles of perceived social support and loneliness in mediating the relationship between Chinese university students’ active use of social network sites and depression. A total of 684 college students (M_age = 19.11, SD = 0.94) were recruited from a university in Shaoxing, China. The independent variable was active social network sites use; the dependent variable was depression; the mediating variables were perceived social support and loneliness. Controlling for demographic variables, active social network sites use significantly and negatively predicts students’ depression levels (p < .01). Active social network sites use can influence depression through perceived social support (p < .01). Perceived social support and loneliness played a sequential mediating role in the relationship between active social network sites use and depression (p < .01).