Psychology Research and Behavior Management (Jul 2023)

The Relationship Between Social Media Use and Negative Emotions Among Chinese Medical College Students: The Mediating Role of Fear of Missing Out and the Moderating Role of Resilience

  • Chen S,
  • Li H,
  • Pang L,
  • Wen D

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 16
pp. 2755 – 2766

Abstract

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Sijian Chen,1,2 Honghe Li,1 Lihong Pang,3 Deliang Wen1 1Institute for International Health Professions Education and Research, China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Nursing, China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Nursing, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Deliang Wen, Institute for International Health Professions Education and Research, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: This study aimed to examine the mediating role of fear of missing out (FoMO) and the moderating role of resilience in the association between social media use and negative emotions among medical college students in China during the COVID-19 pandemic.Participants and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted, medical college students from Qiqihar Medical University, China participated in the study. A total of 470 medical college students were recruited voluntarily to complete questionnaires on social media use, FoMO, resilience, and negative emotions.Results: Social media use was positively associated with FoMO and negative emotions among medical students (p 0.05), but it had an indirect effect on negative emotions via mediation of FoMO (β = 0.933, SE = 0.106, 95% CI: 0.731 to 1.149). Moreover, resilience had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between FoMO and negative emotions (β = − 0.021, SE = 0.005, 95% CI: − 0.032 to − 0.012). FoMO had a significant positive predictive effect on negative emotions at both levels of resilience (low resilience individuals: β = 1.079, SE = 0.076, p < 0.001; high resilience individuals: β = 0.212, SE = 0.094, p < 0.05).Conclusion: Social media use and FoMO may be risk factors for increased negative emotions, and resilience should be considered in prevention and intervention strategies designed to mitigate negative emotions among medical college students.Keywords: social media use, negative emotions, fear of missing out, resilience, COVID-19

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