How does mobile social media use associate with adolescents’ depression? The mediating role of psychological security and its gender difference

The relationship between social media use and adolescents’ depression is gaining increasing research attention. However, studies have shown mixed results and little is known about the mediating mechanisms underlying this relationship. The present study investigates whether psychological security mediates the link between mobile social media use and depression, and explores the potential gender differences within this relationship. The sample included 860 Chinese adolescents (47.6% male) who completed the Adolescents’ Mobile Social Media Usage Behavior Scale, the Security Questionnaire, and the Children’s Depression Inventory. Results indicate that: (1) mobile social media use is negatively associated with adolescents’ depression; (2) psychological security serves as an important mediator between mobile social media use and adolescents’ depression; and (3) the relation between mobile social media use and psychological security differs by gender, such that this relation is positive for boys but negative for girls. In addition, the link between psychological security and depression is stronger for girls than for boys. These findings present important implications for the intervention in improper mobile social media use and depression.