Passive Social Media Use and Depression among College Students during Public Health Emergencies: A Chain Mediation Approach

Lin Wang¹Shuhe Li²Yajing Liu³Lu Cheng^1*

• ¹Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
• ²Jiangxi Institute of Fashion Technology, Nanchang, China
• ³Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, Beijing, China

This study examines passive social media use’s impact on depression among college students during public health emergencies, focusing on the mediating roles of vicarious traumatization and fear of missing out (FoMO). A structured survey of 322 college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, with data collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Using ANOVA, linear regression, and Bootstrap methods, we assessed relationships and mediating effects in a model linking passive social media use, vicarious traumatization, FoMO, and depression. Results show that passive social media use does not directly predict depression (suggesting masking effects), but predicts depression through partial mediation by vicarious traumatization and FoMO. The current study further identified a chain mediation pathway where vicarious traumatization and FoMO sequentially mediate this relationship. Key findings demonstrate: (1) vicarious traumatization mediates passive use's effect on depression; (2) FoMO mediates this relationship; (3) vicarious traumatization and FoMO form a chain mediation pathway. These insights reveal how passive social media behaviors contribute to depression during crises, advancing understanding of cognitive-psychological processes underlying social media's negative effects while offering actionable mental health recommendations.