Hao Fang
Xiaoyu Xu
Shuyi Yang- Zhejiang Agricultural Business College, Shaoxing, China
Background: Previous studies demonstrated a correlation between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety among college students, but the mechanisms of the relationship have not been fully understood.
Objective: The present study aims to examine the mediating role of loneliness and the moderating effect of self-concept clarity in the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety among college students.
Methods: A total of 1,021 college students (mean age = 18.06, SD = 0.26) completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Interaction Anxiousness Scale, Problematic Mobile Social Network Usage Scale, and Self-concept Clarity Scale.
Results: Results confirmed that problematic mobile social network usage significantly predicts social anxiety. Loneliness mediated this relationship, and self-concept clarity significantly moderated the mediation process.
Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of addressing problematic mobile social network usage and loneliness in interventions aimed at reducing social anxiety among college students.
Introduction
Social anxiety, the fear of negative evaluation in social situations, is a common concern among college students and might significantly affect their academic and social experiences (Rapee and Heimberg, 1997). In China, research by Zhao and Dai (2016) indicated that Chinese college students exhibited significantly higher average levels of social anxiety. A study involving 820 participants revealed that 29.65% of college students had experienced high levels of social anxiety (Zhang et al., 2020). Among Chinese college students, social anxiety manifested uniquely through avoidance of group discussions and reluctance to seek professional help (Zha et al., 2023). These behaviors exacerbated academic underachievement. While mobile social networks allowed for interpersonal communication without the immediate pressure of in-person interactions, the fear of being judged online might have exacerbated social anxiety (Hofmann, 2007; She et al., 2023). Given its pervasive impact, identifying modifiable risk factors is critical for intervention.
In the digital era, mobile social networks are integrated into college students’ social lives as an essential component, providing platforms that enable communication, offer entertainment and allow for self-expression (Andreassen et al., 2017; Shannon et al., 2022; Tandoc et al., 2015). Although these technologies facilitate connection and engagement, they bring about risks, particularly regarding problematic usage. Problematic mobile social network usage is typified by an inordinate preoccupation with mobile social networks, advancing to a level where it affects an individual’s daily activities and undermines their wellbeing (González-Nuevo et al., 2023; Wang et al., 2024; Young, 1998; Young et al., 2017). This phenomenon is of particular concern among college students.
There is increasing attention on the problematic mobile social network usage among college students, concentrating on exploring the psychological mechanisms underlying such behavior. The association between problematic mobile social network usage and various negative outcomes have been widely reported, including increased anxiety, depression and academic impairment (Hussain and Griffiths, 2021; Peng et al., 2006; Yigiter et al., 2024). problematic mobile social network usage has been identified as a predictor of social anxiety (Caplan, 2002; Weidman et al., 2012; Lee and Stapinski, 2012). A study involving 1,082 Chinese college students found that problematic mobile social network usage was significantly positively correlated with online social anxiety, and that problematic mobile social network usage could significantly predict online social anxiety (Liu et al., 2022). While previous studies have explored direct links between social media use and anxiety, few have examined the internal psychological processes.
Loneliness, conceptualized as a subjective sense of social isolation, may play a pivotal role in the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety. According to Social Compensation Theory (Caplan, 2005), individuals experiencing social difficulties may engage in excessive mobile social network usage as a compensatory strategy. However, this heightened online interaction often displaces face-to-face communication, diminishes the quality of real-world social connections, and consequently intensifies feelings of loneliness (Lee and Lee, 2023; O’Day and Heimberg, 2021; Wang and Zeng, 2024). The Cognitive-Behavioral Model of Social Anxiety (Rapee and Heimberg, 1997) posits that elevated loneliness reinforces negative self-perceptions and maladaptive cognitions (e.g., “others will reject me”), leading to increased avoidance behaviors and exacerbated social anxiety (Lim et al., 2016; Federman et al., 2024). Therefore, we propose that loneliness may mediate the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety.
However, empirical findings on the mediating role of loneliness between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety are inconsistent. While some studies reported significant indirect effects of problematic mobile social network usage on social anxiety through loneliness (Liu et al., 2022; She et al., 2023), replication of these results has not been achieved in other research (Kim et al., 2019). This inconsistency suggests the potential influence of moderating variables, e.g., self-concept clarity. Self-concept clarity, defined as the extent to which an individual’s self-beliefs are clear, internally consistent and temporally stable (Campbell et al., 1996), has been examined in various studies. Current reports present divergent perspectives regarding the role of self-concept clarity. On one hand, individuals with high self-concept clarity possess more stable and coherent self-views, typically demonstrating greater resilience against stressors and potentially increased resistance to the appeal of problematic mobile social network usage (Lodi-Smith and Roberts, 2010; Parise et al., 2019), owing to their reduced reliance on external validation (Lodi-Smith and Roberts, 2010). Conversely, emerging evidence suggests that when mobile social network usage becomes problematic, individuals with high self-concept clarity might be more sensitive to the dissonance between their well-defined self-perception and the superficial nature of online interactions, potentially resulting in stronger experiences of loneliness (Pang et al., 2024). Considering these contrasting possibilities, this study aims to investigate whether self-concept clarity moderates the effect of problematic usage on loneliness.
Grounded in the Cognitive-Behavioral Model of Social Anxiety (Rapee and Heimberg, 1997) and Social Compensation Theory (Caplan, 2005), this study establishes a moderated mediation model. This model addresses two primary questions: (1) how loneliness transmits the effect of problematic mobile social network usage on social anxiety, and (2) whether self-concept clarity moderates this mediation process by altering the strength of the pathway from problematic mobile social network usage to loneliness.
Goals of the study
The present research established and validated a moderated mediation model, with the aim of examining the mediating influence of loneliness in the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety among college students. Additionally, it investigated the moderating impact of self-concept clarity on the mediation process. The following hypotheses were tested:
Hypotheses 1 (H1): Problematic mobile social network usage significantly predicts social anxiety among college students.
Hypotheses 2 (H2): Loneliness significantly and positively mediates the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety.
Hypotheses 3 (H3): Self-concept clarity moderates the effect of problematic mobile social network usage on loneliness. Compared to individuals with low self-concept clarity, problematic mobile social network usage is more likely to affect loneliness in individuals with high self-concept clarity.
Materials and methods
Participants
Participants were recruited from full-time undergraduate students in China. All participants were required to be fluent in reading and understanding Chinese, with no history of clinically diagnosed mental disorders. From 10th April 2023 to 27th April 2023, a total of 1,104 participants volunteered to participate in the study through an online survey system. Eighty three participants were excluded due to incomplete questionnaires or missing demographic information. A final sample of 1,021 valid participants (validity rate of 92%) was included in the present study. Among them, 532 were male (52.1%) and 489 were female (47.9%). Their average age was 18.06 (SD = 0.26). No incentives were provided for participation.
Measurement
UCLA loneliness scale
The scale used in this study was adopted the UCLA Loneliness Scale by Ip et al. (2024), which includes 20 items measuring both positive (e.g., “Do you often feel like someone truly understands you?”) and negative dimensions (e.g., “Do you often feel lonely?”) of loneliness. The scale scored on a 4-point scale from 1 to 4 (1 = never felt this way, 4 = always felt this way). The higher the score on the scale, the stronger the sense of loneliness. The Cronbach’s alpha used in this study was 0.89.
Interaction anxiousness scale
The social anxiety of individuals is measured using the Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS) developed by Leary (1983). The IAS consists of 15 items (e.g., “Even at informal gatherings, I often feel nervous”), each scored on a 5-point scale from 1 to 5 (1 = not at all characteristic, 5 = extremely characteristic). A higher score obtained from this scale was associated with a correspondingly higher level of social anxiety in participants. The higher the score on this scale, the higher the level of social anxiety. The Cronbach’s alpha for this study was 0.83.
Problematic mobile social network usage scale
The scale used is developed by Liu and Ma (2018). This scale has been extensively evaluated. It consists of 20 items (e.g., “I always unconsciously pick up my phone and open social apps, aimlessly browsing through them”), each scored on a 5-point scale from 1 to 5 (1 = not at all characteristic, 5 = completely characteristic). Higher scores on the scale demonstrated a greater degree of problematic mobile social network use among individuals. The higher the score on the scale, the higher the individual’s problematic use of mobile social networks. The Cronbach’s alpha for this study was 0.96.
Self-concept clarity scale
The Self-Concept Clarity Questionnaire, developed by Campbell et al. (1996), was used, which includes three dimensions: clarity, temporal stability and internal consistency, with a total of 12 items (e.g., “I can clearly know who I am and what kind of person I am”), scored on a 5-point scale from 1 to 5 (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). Higher scores on the scale indicated to a greater level of self-concept clarity among participants. The higher the score on the scale, the higher the individual’s level of self-concept clarity. The Cronbach’s alpha for this study was 0.85.
Data analysis
SPSS 26.0 (IBMCorp., Armonk, N.Y., USA) was used for descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The mediating and moderating effects were tested using Hayes’PROCESS macro (Model 4 for mediation and Model 7 for moderated mediation). For mediation, we tested whether loneliness mediated the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety. For moderation, we examined whether self-concept clarity moderated the path from problematic mobile social network usage to loneliness. Bootstrap sampling was used to estimate confidence intervals, with gender and grade included as control variables.
Results
Common method bias test
For testing common method bias, Harman’s single-factor test was mainly used (Zhou and Long, 2004). Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on all variables included in the four questionnaires. From the results of the analysis, there were 10 factors with eigenvalues greater than one, while the variance explained by the first factor was much less than 40%, at 25.05%. The results suggested that common method bias does not exist.
Descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations
After correlation analysis around four factors of problematic mobile social network usage, social anxiety, loneliness, and self-concept clarity, it was found that problematic mobile social network usage was positively correlated with loneliness and social anxiety, and negatively correlated with self-concept clarity. Loneliness was negatively correlated with self-concept clarity and positively correlated with social anxiety. Self-concept clarity was significantly and negatively correlated with social anxiety (Table 1).
Table 1. Results of descriptive statistics and correlation analysis.
Mediating effects with moderation
We used Model 4 of the PROCESS macro from SPSS with 5,000 bootstrapped samples and included gender and grade as control variables to evaluate the negative relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety and the mediating role of loneliness. Results indicated that problematic mobile social network usage significantly and positively predicted social anxiety (b = 0.293, p < 0.001). Problematic mobile social network usage significantly and positively predicted loneliness (b = 0.195, p < 0.001). Loneliness significantly and positively predicted social anxiety (b = 0.340, p < 0.001). Hypothesis 1 was therefore supported.
The mediating effect of loneliness was statistically significant (b = 0.066, SE = 0.010, 95% CI [0.048, 0.086]). The 95% confidence interval did not include zero, indicating that loneliness was a significant mediator between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety. The mediating effect accounted for 18.50% of the total effect (see Figure 1). Hypothesis 2 was therefore supported.
Figure 1. Mediating effects of loneliness.
We used Model 7 in Hayes’PROCESS macro to test the moderating effect of self-concept clarity on the mediation pathway. The interaction between problematic mobile social network usage and self-concept clarity significantly predicted loneliness (b = 0.051, p < 0.05). Simple slope analysis (Figure 2) showed that problematic mobile social network usage positively predicted loneliness at both high (+1 SD) and low (–1 SD) levels of self-concept clarity, and the effect was stronger at high self-concept clarity (simple slope high = 0.160, p < 0.001; simple slope low = 0.102, p < 0.001).
Figure 2. Moderating effect of self-concept clarity in problematic mobile social network usage and loneliness.
We also examined whether self-concept clarity moderated the indirect effect of loneliness. Such indirect effect was significant at both high and low self-concept clarity, but the magnitude differed. At low self-concept clarity, indirect effect was equal to 0.035 (95% CI [0.018, 0.053]). At high self-concept clarity, indirect effect was equal to 0.054 (95% CI [0.034, 0.076]). The difference between these indirect effects was significant (difference = 0.017, 95% CI [0.001, 0.034]), indicating that regardless of whether individuals have high or low self-concept clarity, problematic mobile social network usage leads to social anxiety through the mediating role of loneliness. For individuals with higher self-concept clarity, the indirect effect of problematic mobile social network usage on social anxiety through loneliness is stronger. Hypothesis 3 was therefore supported.
Discussion
The present study investigated the complex relationships among problematic mobile social network usage, social anxiety, loneliness and self-concept clarity among college students, as well as a moderated mediation model in which loneliness mediates the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety, with self-concept clarity moderating this mediation process.
Both loneliness and social anxiety were positively associated with problematic mobile social network usage. However, a negative correlation was detected between problematic mobile social network usage and self-concept clarity. These findings were consistent with previous research, suggesting that individuals suffering from higher levels of social anxiety and loneliness were more likely to engage in problematic mobile social network usage as a coping mechanism (Caplan, 2002; Ge et al., 2025; O’Day and Heimberg, 2021; Weidman et al., 2012). Both loneliness and social anxiety were positively associated with problematic mobile social network usage, while self-concept clarity was negatively correlated with such usage. This aligns with previous research, suggesting that individuals with unclear self-concepts may rely more on external validation from social media, leading to problematic usage patterns (Lodi-Smith and Roberts, 2010).
The mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety has been confirmed through mediation analysis. Consistent with the Cognitive-Behavioral Model (Rapee and Heimberg, 1997), the results indicated that loneliness, as a form of negative self-perception, exacerbated social anxiety. Loneliness significantly mediated the relationship, accounting for a substantial proportion of 18.50% of the total effect. The observation suggested that college students have problems using mobile social networks, which might increase loneliness and exacerbate their social anxiety. The finding was consistent with the Social Compensation Theory (Caplan, 2002), which suggested that individuals who had difficulties in real-world social interactions tend to over-rely on mobile social networks for compensation. Problematic mobile social network usage reduces offline socializing, weakens genuine emotional connections, and thereby intensifies loneliness, ultimately leading to increased social anxiety.
The moderation analysis results supported our research hypothesis, indicating that self-concept clarity plays a moderating role in the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and loneliness. Specifically, compared to individuals with low self-concept clarity, problematic mobile social network usage had a more pronounced impact on loneliness among those with high self-concept clarity. This finding aligns with studies suggesting that individuals with high self-concept clarity have a heightened awareness regarding the gap between their social needs and actual social experiences (Pang et al., 2024). When these individuals engage in excessive use of mobile social networks, they become more acutely aware of the negative impact of excessive social media use on their well-being and recognize that online interactions fail to fulfill their deeper social needs, thereby experiencing more intense feelings of loneliness (Lewandowski et al., 2010). For example, a student with a clear self-view as “sociable” might feel lonelier if problematic scrolling through social media highlights a lack of deep, meaningful interactions compared to their self-perception.
This finding appears inconsistent with previous research demonstrating that self-concept clarity generally buffers against negative psychological outcomes (Lodi-Smith and Roberts, 2010; Wong et al., 2019). The discrepancy could be explained by the distinctive nature of problematic mobile social network usage. While prior studies have primarily examined general stressors or normal social media use, in the specific context of problematic usage characterized by loss of control and preoccupation, the self-awareness of individuals with high self-concept clarity may paradoxically heighten their sensitivity to the negative impact of their usage behaviors on social well-being, thereby strengthening its association with loneliness.
These findings hold significant implications for exploring the psychological mechanisms underlying social anxiety among college students. The study emphasizes that individuals’ problematic mobile social network usage and loneliness serve as effective intervention entry points for addressing social anxiety (Du et al., 2024). Intervention strategies such as enhancing social skills, strengthening social support, improving interpersonal interactions, and adjusting negative social cognition can effectively alleviate individuals’ loneliness (Masi et al., 2011). Additionally, fostering self-concept clarity may help college students cope with the complexity of social anxiety in a healthier manner.
Limitations and future research
The current study used a cross-sectional design method. Longitudinal research will be needed to establish the temporal sequence of the observed relationships and to further explore the potential reciprocal effects among problematic mobile social network usage, loneliness, social anxiety, and self-concept clarity.
Conclusion and educational suggestions
This study revealed significant insights into the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety among college students, highlighting the mediating role of loneliness and the moderating role of self-concept clarity. The findings indicated that loneliness acts as a mediator, linking excessive use of mobile social networks to increased levels of social anxiety. Additionally, the present study observed the moderating role of self-concept in the relationship.
Educational institutions are encouraged to implement programs aimed at promoting responsible use of mobile social networks. Workshops and seminars can be organized to educate students about the potential negative consequences of excessive use, including increased loneliness and social anxiety. These could include cognitive restructuring sessions to challenge beliefs. Additionally, peer mentoring programs could facilitate offline social skill practice, encouraging students to engage in real-world social activities and hobbies—reducing reliance on mobile social networks for interaction. To further reinforce stable self-perception, institutions might introduce self-concept journaling (Wu et al., 2023), where daily entries help students cultivate healthier self-awareness.
Data availability statement
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.
Ethics statement
The studies involving humans were approved by the ethics committee of Zhejiang Agricultural Business College. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.
Author contributions
HF: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Writing – original draft. XX: Software, Supervision, Writing – review & editing. SY: Visualization, Writing – review & editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by the 2024 Annual Special Task Project of Humanities and Social Science Research of the Ministry of Education (Research on College Counselors) (24JDSZ3017); “Major Humanities and Social Sciences Research Projects in Zhejiang” higher education institutions (2024GH082).
Acknowledgments
Thank you for the financial support provided by Zhejiang Agricultural Business College.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Generative AI statement
The authors declare that no Gen AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.
Any alternative text (alt text) provided alongside figures in this article has been generated by Frontiers with the support of artificial intelligence and reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, including review by the authors wherever possible. If you identify any issues, please contact us.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
References
Andreassen, C. S., Pallesen, S., and Griffiths, M. D. (2017). The relationship between addictive use of social media, narcissism, and self-esteem: findings from a large national survey. Addict. Behav. 64, 287–293. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.03.006,
Campbell, J. D., Trapnell, P. D., Heine, S. J., Katz, I. M., Lavallee, L. F., and Lehman, D. R. (1996). Self-concept clarity: measurement, personality correlates, and cultural boundaries. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 70, 141–156. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.70.1.141
Caplan, S. E. (2002). Problematic internet use and psychosocial well-being: development of a theory-based cognitive–behavioral measurement instrument. Comput. Human Behav. 18, 553–575. doi: 10.1016/S0747-5632(02)00004-3
Caplan, S. E. (2005). A social skill account of problematic internet use. J. Commun. 55, 721–736. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2005.tb03019.x
Du, M., Zhao, C., Hu, H., Ding, N., He, J., Tian, W., et al. (2024). Association between problematic social networking use and anxiety symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychol. 12:263. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-01705-w,
Federman, E. J., Drebing, C. E., and Graham, J. E. (2024). The impact of loneliness and social anxiety on casual social contacts. Cureus 16:e70633. doi: 10.7759/cureus.70633,
Ge, M. W., Hu, F. H., Jia, Y. J., Tang, W., Zhang, W. Q., Zhao, D. Y., et al. (2025). The relationship between loneliness and internet or smartphone addiction among adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychol. Rep. 128, 1429–1451. doi: 10.1177/00332941231180119,
González-Nuevo, C., Cuesta, M., Postigo, Á., Menéndez-Aller, Á., and Muñiz, J. (2023). Problematic social network use: structure and assessment. Int. J. Ment. Health Addict. 21, 2122–2137. doi: 10.1007/s11469-021-00711-y,
Hofmann, S. G. (2007). Cognitive factors that maintain social anxiety disorder: a comprehensive model and its treatment implications. Cogn. Behav. Ther. 36, 193–209. doi: 10.1080/16506070701421313,
Hussain, Z., and Griffiths, M. D. (2021). The associations between problematic social networking site use and sleep quality, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety and stress. Int. J. Ment. Health Addict. 19, 686–700. doi: 10.1007/s11469-019-00175-1
Ip, H., Suen, Y. N., Hui, L. M. C., Cheung, C., Wong, S. M. Y., and Chen, E. Y. H. (2024). Psychometric properties of the variants of the Chinese UCLA loneliness scales and their associations with mental health in adolescents. Sci. Rep. 14:24663. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-75739-w,
Kim, J.-H. (2019). Longitudinal associations among psychological issues and problematic use of smartphones. J. media Psychol. 31, 117–127. doi: 10.1027/1864-1105/a000234
Leary, M. R. (1983). Social anxiousness: the construct and its measurement. J. Pers. Assess. 47, 66–75. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa4701_8,
Lee, M. S., and Lee, H. (2023). Problematic smartphone use and its relationship with anxiety and suicidal ideation among south Korean adolescents. Psychiatry Investig. 20, 843–852. doi: 10.30773/pi.2023.0051,
Lee, B. W., and Stapinski, L. A. (2012). Seeking safety on the internet: relationship between social anxiety and problematic internet use. J. Anxiety Disord. 26, 197–205. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.11.001,
Lewandowski, G. W., Nardone, N., and Raines, A. J. (2010). The role of self-concept clarity in relationship quality. Self Identity 9, 416–433. doi: 10.1080/15298860903332191
Lim, M. H., Rodebaugh, T. L., Zyphur, M. J., and Gleeson, J. F. M. (2016). Loneliness over time: the crucial role of social anxiety. J. Abnorm. Psychol. 125, 620–630. doi: 10.1037/abn0000162,
Liu, C., and Ma, J. (2018). Development and validation of the Chinese social media addiction scale. Pers. Individ. Dif. 134, 55–59. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.05.046
Liu, Z. H., Zhang, S. S., and Wu, H. Y. (2022). Relationship of problematic social networks use, online social anxiety and depressive symptoms in college students. Chin. J. Sch. Health 43, 1699–1703. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2022.11.024
Lodi-Smith, J., and Roberts, B. W. (2010). Getting to know me: social role experiences and age differences in self-concept clarity during adulthood. J. Pers. 78, 1383–1410. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00655.x,
Masi, C. M., Chen, H. Y., Hawkley, L. C., and Cacioppo, J. T. (2011). A meta-analysis of interventions to reduce loneliness. Personal. Soc. Psychol. Rev. 15, 219–266. doi: 10.1177/1088868310377394,
O’Day, E. B., and Heimberg, R. G. (2021). Social media use, social anxiety, and loneliness: a systematic review. Comput. Hum. Behav. Rep. 3:100070. doi: 10.1016/j.chbr.2021.100070
Pang, T., Wang, H., Zhang, X., and Zhang, X. (2024). Self-concept clarity and loneliness among college students: the chain-mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure. Behav. Sci. 14:194. doi: 10.3390/bs14030194,
Parise, M., Canzi, E., Olivari, M. G., and Ferrari, L. (2019). Self-concept clarity and psychological adjustment in adolescence: the mediating role of emotion regulation. Pers. Individ. Dif. 138, 363–365. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.10.023
Peng, H., Tsai, C. C., and Wu, Y. T. (2006). University students’ self-efficacy and their attitudes toward the internet: the role of students’ perceptions of the internet. Educ. Stud. 32, 73–86. doi: 10.1080/03055690500416025
Rapee, R. M., and Heimberg, R. G. (1997). A cognitive-behavioral model of anxiety in social phobia. Behav. Res. Ther. 35, 741–756. doi: 10.1016/S0005-7967(97)00022-3,
Shannon, H., Bush, K., Villeneuve, P. J., Hellemans, K. G., and Guimond, S. (2022). Problematic social media use in adolescents and young adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. JMIR Ment. Health 9:e33450. doi: 10.2196/33450,
She, R., Mo, P. K. H., Li, J., Liu, X., Jiang, H., Chen, Y., et al. (2023). The double-edged sword effect of social networking use intensity on problematic social networking use among college students: the role of social skills and social anxiety. Comput. Human Behav. 140:107555. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107555
Tandoc, E. C., Ferrucci, P., and Duffy, M. (2015). Facebook use, envy, and depression among college students: is facebooking depressing? Comput. Human Behav. 43, 139–146. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2014.10.053
Wang, Y., and Zeng, Y. (2024). Relationship between loneliness and internet addiction: a meta-analysis. BMC Public Health 24:858. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-18366-4,
Wang, X., Zhang, E., Cui, Y., Huang, J., and Cheng, M. (2024). Predicting internet addiction in college students using a 1D-CNN model: analysis of influencing factors. DYNA 91, 66–74. doi: 10.15446/dyna.v91n233.112788
Weidman, A. C., Fernandez, K. C., Levinson, C. A., Augustine, A. A., Larsen, R. J., and Rodebaugh, T. L. (2012). Compensatory internet use among individuals higher in social anxiety and its implications for well-being. Pers. Individ. Dif. 53, 191–195. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2012.03.003,
Wong, A. E., Dirghangi, S. R., and Hart, S. R. (2019). Self-concept clarity mediates the effects of adverse childhood experiences on adult suicide behavior, depression, loneliness, perceived stress, and life distress. Self Identity 1, 247–266. doi: 10.1080/15298868.2018.1439096
Wu, J., Xiao, Q., and Zhang, X. (2023). Social support and self-concept clarity as mediators between college students’ passive social network site use and loneliness. J. Psychol. Afr. 33, 533–539. doi: 10.1080/14330237.2023.2279370
Yigiter, M. S., Demir, S., and Dogan, N. (2024). The relationship between problematic social media use and depression: a meta-analysis study. Curr. Psychol. 43, 7936–7951. doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-04972-9
Young, K. S. (1998). Internet addiction: the emergence of a new clinical disorder. Cyberpsychol. Behav. 1, 237–244. doi: 10.1089/cpb.1998.1.237
Young, N. L., Kuss, D. J., Griffiths, M. D., and Howard, C. J. (2017). Passive Facebook use, Facebook addiction, and associations with escapism: an experimental vignette study. Comput. Human Behav. 71, 24–31. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2017.01.039
Zha, Y., Tang, Q., Jin, X., Cai, X., Gong, W., Shao, Y., et al. (2023). Development of social anxiety cognition scale for college students: basing on Hofmann’s model of social anxiety disorder. Front. Psychol. 14:1080099. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1080099,
Zhang, Q., Li, J., Ma, T., Zhang, L., Zhang, R., Li, X., et al. (2020). Analysis on the status and influencing factors of social anxiety of college students in a university in Changchun city. Med. Soc. 33, 112–115. doi: 10.13723/j.yxysh.2020.03.026
Zhao, C., and Dai, B. (2016). Relationship of fear of negative evaluation and social anxiety in college students. Chin. J. Health Psychol. 24, 1746–1749. doi: 10.13342/j.cnki.cjhp.2016.11.038
Keywords: problematic mobile social network usage, social anxiety, loneliness, self-concept clarity, college students
Citation: Fang H, Xu X and Yang S (2025) The role of loneliness and self-concept clarity in the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety among college students. Front. Psychol. 16:1600474. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1600474
Edited by:
Viviana Horigian, University of Miami, United StatesReviewed by:
Wahyu Rahardjo, Gunadarma University, IndonesiaLaura Riddleston, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
Copyright © 2025 Fang, Xu and Yang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Xiaoyu Xu, eHh5ODk4OTIwMjNAMTYzLmNvbQ==