Ye Shaoyu, Ho Kevin K W
Institute of Library, Information and Media Science, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8850, Japan.
Institute of Business Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tokyo, 112-0012, Japan.
BMC Psychol. 2024 Dec 24;12(1):776. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-02278-4.
This study examined how university students' social media use is related to their mental health (subjective well-being [SWB] and loneliness) and perceived physical health. A cognitive bias model and a social network mediation model were used to compare social capital formed via face-to-face and online communication, considering the effects of personality traits (i.e., social skills, generalized trust, and social tolerance).
We conducted a self-report survey with 409 university students in Japan from August to September 2022. Four patterns of social media use were analyzed: (1) Twitter only, (2) LINE + Twitter, (3) Instagram + Twitter, and (4) Discord + Twitter. Relationships between the variables were investigated with a structural equation modeling analysis using SmartPLS 4.0.
Overall, regardless of social media use patterns, personality traits had positive direct effects on mental health and also had positive effects on social capital via face-to-face (FTF) communication, which had mediating effects on the improvement of mental health. FTF social capital had a positive relationship with online social capital, which did not have relationships with mental or perceived physical health. Additionally, perceived physical health decreased loneliness but was not associated with SWB. Social media use negatively affected perceived physical health but had no effect on SWB or loneliness. Finally, different relationships between personality traits and social media use, FTF social capital and SWB, social media use and perceived physical health were observed among the four patterns of social media use.
This study has implications for improving the health of young adults in the "mobile x social era." In particular, we provide suggestions to help young adults improve their mental health.
本研究探讨了大学生的社交媒体使用情况与他们的心理健康（主观幸福感[SWB]和孤独感）以及感知身体健康之间的关系。考虑到人格特质（即社交技能、广义信任和社会宽容）的影响，使用认知偏差模型和社会网络中介模型来比较通过面对面和在线交流形成的社会资本。
2022年8月至9月，我们对409名日本大学生进行了一项自我报告调查。分析了四种社交媒体使用模式：（1）仅使用推特，（2）使用LINE+推特，（3）使用Instagram+推特，以及（4）使用Discord+推特。使用SmartPLS 4.0通过结构方程建模分析研究变量之间的关系。
总体而言，无论社交媒体使用模式如何，人格特质对心理健康都有积极的直接影响，并且通过面对面（FTF）交流对社会资本也有积极影响，而面对面交流对心理健康的改善具有中介作用。面对面社会资本与在线社会资本呈正相关，而在线社会资本与心理健康或感知身体健康无关。此外，感知身体健康会降低孤独感，但与主观幸福感无关。社交媒体使用对感知身体健康有负面影响，但对主观幸福感或孤独感没有影响。最后，在四种社交媒体使用模式中，观察到人格特质与社交媒体使用、面对面社会资本与主观幸福感、社交媒体使用与感知身体健康之间存在不同的关系。
本研究对改善“移动x社交时代”年轻人的健康具有启示意义。特别是，我们提供了有助于年轻人改善心理健康的建议。
