The effect of social anxiety on SNS addiction among college students in Northeast China: The mediating role of depressive symptoms

This study examines the connection between social anxiety and social network service (SNS) addiction among college students in Northeast China, a region with low economic growth. It also explores how depressive symptoms mediate this relationship. Analyzing data from 2917 students using SPSS 26.0 and Process V.4.0, the study reveals that higher social anxiety levels correlate with an increased tendency for SNS addiction. Furthermore, depressive symptoms partially mediate this relationship, implying that elevated social anxiety leads to greater depressive symptoms and subsequently enhances SNS addiction. The study provides practical recommendations for addressing SNS addiction among college students in Northeast China.