Why is problematic social media use more prevalent among Chinese adolescents with probable depression than their non-depressed peers? A longitudinal examination of the mediating roles of peer acceptance and loneliness

Abstract

Problematic social media use (PSMU) among adolescents is a growing concern, particularly among those at risk for depression. However, few longitudinal studies have examined how depression status (probable depression vs. non-depressed) influences the development of PSMU through interpersonal and emotional pathways. Drawing on the model of Compensatory Internet Use Theory, the present study investigated whether peer acceptance and loneliness would mediate the longitudinal association between depression status and PSMU among Chinese adolescents. A total of 1,187 adolescents (50.0% males; Mean age = 13.6 years, SD = 0.8) completed surveys across three waves. The study found that adolescents with probable depression at baseline showed a significantly higher prevalence of PSMU than their non-depressed peers (12.6% vs. 1.3%). Importantly, longitudinal mediation analysis indicated that peer acceptance at T1 partially mediated this group difference in PSMU at T3. Loneliness at T2 also was a significant mediator. In addition, a significant sequential mediation emerged: adolescents with probable depression at baseline reported lower peer acceptance at T1, which subsequently heightened loneliness at T2, ultimately contributing to higher levels of PSMU at T3. These findings support a developmental framework in which depression status differentiates adolescents' interpersonal functioning and emotional experiences, which in turn contribute to maladaptive patterns of social media use. Interventions that strengthen adolescents' peer relationships, reduce loneliness, and address compensatory online coping may help mitigate PSMU risk among youth with probable depression.

Keywords: Chinese adolescents; Depression; Loneliness; Longitudinal mediation; Peer acceptance; Problematic social media use.