Fear of negative evaluation mediates and core self-evaluation moderates the relationship between social comparison orientation and social network addiction.

ABSTRACT: Mental health problems among college students have become a pressing public health concern, with increasing evidence that excessive social media use exacerbates risks of anxiety, depression, and behavioral addictions. In the digital era, social comparison has intensified through online interactions, heightening students' sensitivity to peer evaluation and contributing to maladaptive outcomes such as social network addiction. To address this issue, the present study examined the relationship between social comparison orientation and social network addiction among Chinese college students, focusing on the mediating role of fear of negative evaluation and the moderating role of core self-evaluations. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 2,437 students from five universities in Huai'an C

SUBMITTER: Feng W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12639156 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature