Social isolation and social media addiction: the serial mediation roles of social anxiety and FoMO among Chinese university students.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the direct and indirect relationships between social isolation and social media addiction among Chinese university students, with social anxiety and fear of missing out as serial mediators in the digital era. A convenience sample of students from eight universities in China was recruited. A total of 1,000 self report questionnaires were distributed via digital platforms including email, WeChat, and QQ between December 1 and 6, 2025. In total, 732 valid responses were obtained (female 454, male 278). Hypotheses were tested in SPSS and SmartPLS through three stages: (1) descriptive analysis, (2) confirmatory factor analysis, and (3) structural model evaluation. SI is not directly associated with SMA but shows an indirect association with SMA through FoMO, including a

SUBMITTER: Zhao X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12830946 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature