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. 2024 Jan 4;12(1):13.
doi: 10.1186/s40359-023-01498-4.

The relationship between loneliness and problematic social media usage in Chinese university students: a longitudinal study

Peibo Wu  1   2 , Rong Feng  3   4 , Jindan Zhang  1
Affiliations

The relationship between loneliness and problematic social media usage in Chinese university students: a longitudinal study

Peibo Wu et al. BMC Psychol. .

Abstract

Background: A significant number of cross-sectional studies have explored the correlation between loneliness and problematic social media use. However, the causal relationship between these two key variables remains controversial, and the developmental relationship over time is unclear.

Methods: We conducted a one-year longitudinal study with 538 Chinese college students using questionnaires and employing cross-lagged and latent growth models to investigate the causal relationship and developmental dynamics between loneliness and problematic social media use.

Results: The results indicate that (a) loneliness and problematic social media use mutually and positively influence each other, establishing a bidirectional causal relationship; (b) Chinese college students experience a gradual increase in levels of loneliness and problematic social media use during their time in college; and (c) the intercept and slope of loneliness significantly and positively affect the intercept and slope of problematic social media use, and conversely, the intercept and slope of problematic social media use significantly and positively influence the intercept and slope of loneliness.

Conclusion: These findings reveal the longitudinal relationship between loneliness and problematic social media use among Chinese college students and offer insights for researchers and educators to intervene in college students' loneliness and problematic social media use from a developmental perspective.

Keywords: College students; Cross-lagged model; Latent growth model; Loneliness; Longitudinal study; Problematic social media use.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Nested models of the relationship between loneliness and problematic social media use. Note. LS = loneliness; PSMU = problematic social media use; T1, T2, T3 = Time 1, Time 2, Time 3
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Cross-lagged model of loneliness and problematic social media use. Note. LS = loneliness; PSMU = problematic social media use; T1, T2, T3 = Time 1, Time 2, Time 3. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
LGM with unconditional variables of loneliness and problematic social media use. Note. LGM = latent growth model; I = intercept; S = slope; T1, T2, T3 = Time 1, Time 2, Time 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
LGM of loneliness and problematic social media use. Note. LGM = latent growth model; I LS = intercept of loneliness; S LS = slope of problematic social media use; I PSMU = intercept of problematic social media use; S PSMU = slope of problematic social media use; T1, T2, T3 = Time 1, Time 2, Time 3
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
LGM of problematic social media use and loneliness. Note. LGM = latent growth model; I PSMU = intercept of problematic social media use; S PSMU = slope of problematic social media use; I LS = intercept of loneliness; S LS = slope of problematic social media use; T1, T2, T3 = Time 1, Time 2, Time 3
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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