Wang Lin, Li Shuhe, Liu Yajing, Cheng Lu
Chinese Academy of Sciences and Education Evaluation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China.
Jiangxi Institute of Fashion Technology, Nanchang, China.
Front Psychol. 2025 Jul 22;16:1627637. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1627637. eCollection 2025.
Despite growing evidence linking passive social media use to depression during public health emergencies, the underlying psychological mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the impact of passive social media use on depression among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically examining the mediating roles of vicarious traumatization and fear of missing out (FoMO).
A structured survey was conducted among 322 college students. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS 23.0. ANOVA, linear regression, and Bootstrap methods were employed to assess relationships and mediating effects in a model linking passive social media use, vicarious traumatization, FoMO, and depression.
Results indicated that passive social media use did not directly predict depression, suggesting possible masking effects. However, passive social media use significantly predicted depression through partial mediation by vicarious traumatization and FoMO. Additionally, a chain mediation pathway was identified, in which vicarious traumatization and FoMO sequentially mediated the relationship between passive social media use and depression.
These findings reveal how passive social media behaviors contribute to depression during public health crises by highlighting the cognitive-psychological processes involved. The study advances understanding of social media's negative effects and provides actionable recommendations for mental health interventions during emergencies.
尽管越来越多的证据表明，在突发公共卫生事件期间，被动使用社交媒体与抑郁有关，但其潜在的心理机制仍不清楚。本研究调查了在新冠疫情期间，被动使用社交媒体对大学生抑郁的影响，特别考察替代性创伤和错失恐惧（FoMO）的中介作用。
对322名大学生进行了结构化调查。通过问卷调查收集数据，并使用SPSS 23.0进行分析。采用方差分析、线性回归和Bootstrap方法，评估在一个将被动使用社交媒体、替代性创伤、错失恐惧和抑郁联系起来的模型中的关系和中介效应。
结果表明，被动使用社交媒体并不能直接预测抑郁，这表明可能存在掩盖效应。然而，被动使用社交媒体通过替代性创伤和错失恐惧的部分中介作用显著预测了抑郁。此外，还确定了一条链式中介路径，其中替代性创伤和错失恐惧依次中介了被动使用社交媒体与抑郁之间的关系。
这些发现揭示了被动社交媒体行为如何通过突出所涉及的认知心理过程，在突发公共卫生事件期间导致抑郁。该研究推进了对社交媒体负面影响的理解，并为紧急情况下的心理健康干预提供了可行的建议。
