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The Impact of Social Network Site Addiction on Depression in Chinese Medical Students: A Serial Multiple Mediator Model Involving Loneliness and Unmet Interpersonal Needs

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  • Ruijie Gong

    (School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
    Department of Prevention of Acute Infectious Diseases and Immunization, Xuhui Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200237, China
    The two authors contribute equally to this study/work.)

  • Yinghuan Zhang

    (School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
    The two authors contribute equally to this study/work.)

  • Rusi Long

    (School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China)

  • Rui Zhu

    (School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China)

  • Sicong Li

    (School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China)

  • Xinyi Liu

    (School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China)

  • Suping Wang

    (Department of Discipline Planning, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China)

  • Yong Cai

    (School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China)

Abstract

The use of social network sites (SNSs) is inevitable in daily life. Everyone is likely to be addicted to SNSs, especially medical students. This study is aimed to assess the degree of SNS addiction and its relation to psychosocial factors such as depression, loneliness and unmet interpersonal needs among Chinese medical students. The cross-section survey was conducted from March to May in 2018 in Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Of the total 1067 participants, 33.18% had an SNS addiction, 87.7% of the participants used SNSs every day during last month and 53.42% of the participants used SNSs for at least an hour per day during the last week. SNS addiction is positively related with depression both directly and indirectly. The mediating roles of loneliness and unmet interpersonal needs on the relationship between SNS addiction and depression are significant. For the well-being of medical students, efforts should be taken to prevent them from becoming addicted to SNSs.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruijie Gong & Yinghuan Zhang & Rusi Long & Rui Zhu & Sicong Li & Xinyi Liu & Suping Wang & Yong Cai, 2021. "The Impact of Social Network Site Addiction on Depression in Chinese Medical Students: A Serial Multiple Mediator Model Involving Loneliness and Unmet Interpersonal Needs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-8, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8614-:d:614737
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Daria J. Kuss & Mark D. Griffiths, 2017. "Social Networking Sites and Addiction: Ten Lessons Learned," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Samira Ranaeiy & Mohammad Taghavi & Mohammad Goodarzi, 2016. "The Effect of Loneliness on Social Networking Sites Use and Its Related Behaviors," Global Journal of Health Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 8(8), pages 162-162, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cecilia Cheng & Yan-Ching Lau, 2022. "Social Media Addiction during COVID-19-Mandated Physical Distancing: Relatedness Needs as Motives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Fengxia Lai & Lihong Wang & Jiyin Zhang & Shengnan Shan & Jing Chen & Li Tian, 2023. "Relationship between Social Media Use and Social Anxiety in College Students: Mediation Effect of Communication Capacity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Lavinia Maria Pop & Magdalena Iorga & Raluca Iurcov, 2022. "Body-Esteem, Self-Esteem and Loneliness among Social Media Young Users," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.
    4. Yonghua Chen & Xi Liu & Dorothy T. Chiu & Ying Li & Baibing Mi & Yue Zhang & Lu Ma & Hong Yan, 2022. "Problematic Social Media Use and Depressive Outcomes among College Students in China: Observational and Experimental Findings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, April.
    5. Youlai Zeng & Jiahui Zhang & Jiaxin Wei & Shunyu Li, 2022. "The Impact of Undergraduates’ Social Isolation on Smartphone Addiction: The Roles of Academic Anxiety and Social Media Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, November.

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