The role of loneliness and self-concept clarity in the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety among college students

Background Previous studies demonstrated a correlation between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety among college students, but the mechanisms of the relationship have not been fully understood. Objective The present study aims to examine the mediating role of loneliness and the moderating effect of self-concept clarity in the relationship between problematic mobile social network usage and social anxiety among college students. Methods A total of 1,021 college students (mean age = 18.06, SD = 0.26) completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Interaction Anxiousness Scale, Problematic Mobile Social Network Usage Scale, and Self-concept Clarity Scale. Results Results confirmed that problematic mobile social network usage significantly predicts social anxiety. Loneliness mediated this relationship, and self-concept clarity significantly moderated the mediation process. Conclusion These findings underscore the importance of addressing problematic mobile social network usage and loneliness in interventions aimed at reducing social anxiety among college students.