What does this research mean for the field?

Problematic social network use is positively associated with loneliness among college students, a relationship that is sequentially mediated by diminished basic psychological need satisfaction and lower self-acceptance. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the association between problematic social network use and loneliness among university students and evaluate the serial mediating roles of basic psychological need satisfaction and self-acceptance.

September 14, 2026Frontiers in PsychologyOpen Access

Problematic social networking use and loneliness among college students: a serial mediation model of basic psychological need satisfaction and self-acceptance

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Authors

XTXiuju TianZhejiang Normal University LWLijun WangZhejiang University of Science and Technology

Discussion

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Implication

Cross-sectional study demonstrates problematic social network use correlates with loneliness in college students, indicating that supporting psychological needs and self-acceptance can reduce...

Key Points

To examine the association between problematic social network use and loneliness among university students and evaluate the serial mediating roles of basic psychological need satisfaction and self-acceptance.
Assessed 992 undergraduate students (mean age = 20.31 years; 488 males, 49.2%; 504 females, 50.8%) from three universities in Zhejiang, China, using standardized measures.
Conducted serial mediation analysis using PROCESS Model 6 with bootstrapping to estimate direct and indirect pathways.
Problematic social network use showed a direct positive association with loneliness.
Significant indirect effects linked problematic use to loneliness via need satisfaction alone (β = 0.133, 95% CI [0.104, 0.165]; 26.28% of total association), self-acceptance alone (β = 0.045, 95% CI [0.024, 0.067]; 8.89%), and their sequential serial pathway (β = 0.061, 95% CI [0.046, 0.078]; 12.06%).

Cite This Study

Tian et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7b29f0926e14a848b10ef https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1944813

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September 14, 2026Frontiers in PsychologyOpen Access

Problematic social networking use and loneliness among college students: a serial mediation model of basic psychological need satisfaction and self-acceptance

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

XTXiuju TianZhejiang Normal University LWLijun WangZhejiang University of Science and Technology

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Cross-sectional study demonstrates problematic social network use correlates with loneliness in college students, indicating that supporting psychological needs and self-acceptance can reduce...

Key Points

To examine the association between problematic social network use and loneliness among university students and evaluate the serial mediating roles of basic psychological need satisfaction and self-acceptance.
Assessed 992 undergraduate students (mean age = 20.31 years; 488 males, 49.2%; 504 females, 50.8%) from three universities in Zhejiang, China, using standardized measures.
Conducted serial mediation analysis using PROCESS Model 6 with bootstrapping to estimate direct and indirect pathways.
Problematic social network use showed a direct positive association with loneliness.
Significant indirect effects linked problematic use to loneliness via need satisfaction alone (β = 0.133, 95% CI [0.104, 0.165]; 26.28% of total association), self-acceptance alone (β = 0.045, 95% CI [0.024, 0.067]; 8.89%), and their sequential serial pathway (β = 0.061, 95% CI [0.046, 0.078]; 12.06%).

Cite This Study

Tian et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7b29f0926e14a848b10ef https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1944813

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