Relationship between Social Media Use and Social Anxiety in College Students: Mediation Effect of Communication Capacity

Fengxia Lai, Lihong Wang, Jiyin Zhang, Shengnan Shan, Jing Chen and Li Tian ()
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Fengxia Lai: Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Lihong Wang: Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Jiyin Zhang: School of Nursing, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Shengnan Shan: School of Nursing, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Jing Chen: School of Nursing, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Li Tian: Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: An increasing number of college students are experiencing social anxiety in an era of prevalent social networking. College students’ social anxiety may be related to their social media use. However, this relationship has not been confirmed. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between different types of social media use and social anxiety among college students, and the mediation effects of communication capacity in this context. A large sample of 1740 students from seven colleges in China was analyzed. Bivariate correlation and structural equations analysis showed that passive social media use was positively correlated with social anxiety. Active social media use was negatively correlated with social anxiety. Communication capacity partially mediated the relationship between social media use (passive/active) and social anxiety. Active social media use may reduce social anxiety by positively mediating communication capacity, while improved communication capacity may reduce the contribution of passive use to social anxiety. The differences in the effects of different social media use on social anxiety deserve the attention of educators. Developing communication capacity education around college students may help reduce their social anxiety.

Keywords: social media use; social anxiety; communication capacity; college students; mediation effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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