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Based on the development trend of SNSs (social networking sites) and individuals’ specific experiences on SNSs, the current study aimed to investigate the association between information overload and the intention to reduce SNS usage, as well as the mediating roles of negative social comparison and SNS fatigue in this relationship. A sample of 986 undergraduate students who had an active WeChat Moments (the most popular SNS in China) account was recruited to participate in this research. The results indicated the followings: (1) There was a significantly positive association between each two variables among information overload, negative social comparison, SNS fatigue and the intention to reduce SNS usage. (2) After controlling for gender and age, information overload was positively associated with the intention to reduce SNS usage through the mediating roles of negative social comparison and SNS fatigue, and this association contained three mediating paths – the independent mediation effects of negative social comparison and SNS fatigue and the sequential mediation effect of negative social comparison and SNS fatigue. These results not only expand relevant research but also provide practical implications for the reasonable use and sustainable development of SNS.

Body image comparisons on social networking sites (SNS) have been found to be associated with disordered eating among western young women, however, the inner mechanism driving this association is largely unknown. Based on social comparison, sociocultural, and objectification theories, the present study aimed to investigate the association between body image comparisons on SNS and restrained eating, as well as the mediating role of body shame and the moderating roles of body appreciation and body mass index (BMI) among Chinese young adult women. A sample of 567 Chinese college women were recruited to complete a questionnaire assessing body image comparisons on SNS, body shame, body appreciation, restrained eating, and information about weight and height. Results showed that body image comparisons on SNS were positively associated with restrained eating and that body shame significantly mediated this association. Furthermore, body appreciation and BMI each moderated the association between body shame and restrained eating as well as the association between body image comparisons on SNS and restrained eating. These results not only have theoretical implications, but also provide guidance for prevention interventions targeting negative body image and disordered eating among college women.

This article reports a meta-analysis of the relationships between the Big Five personality traits and problematic mobile phone use (PMPU). After searching and screening the literature, a total of 36 studies involving 15,660 participants were included in the analysis. Using the random-effects model, the results indicated that neuroticism and extraversion were positively associated with PMPU. Conversely, agreeableness and conscientiousness were negatively associated with PMPU, while openness showed no association with PMPU. The result also showed that culture could moderate the relationship between openness and PMPU. Specifically, the negative relationship between openness and PMPU was not significant in collectivist culture but was significant in individualistic culture. In conclusion, high neuroticism, high extraversion, low agreeableness, and low conscientiousness are associated with PMPU. Moreover, the relationship between neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness and PMPU is relatively stable. Besides, cultural background moderates the relationship between openness and PMPU.

A growing body of research has documented the association between general social network sites use and loneliness, though results have not clarified whether social media increases or decreases loneliness. The relationships between specific social network sites use patterns and loneliness, as well as the mechanisms underlying this association, should be further examined. To address this issue, the current study investigated the mediating roles of social support and self-esteem between active social network sites use and loneliness. A sample of 390 undergraduate students (Mage = 19.39, SD = 0.95) anonymously completed the Active Social Network Sites Use Questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Emotional and Social Loneliness Scale in their classrooms. Latent variables structural equation modeling analysis indicated that: (a) active social network sites use was negatively associated with loneliness; (b) social support and self-esteem could significantly mediate the relationship between active social network sites use and loneliness, which contained two mediating paths: the simple mediating effect of social support and the sequential mediating effects of social support and self-esteem. These results coincide with previous research and extend them by examining the effects of how individuals use social media. Our understanding of how social media use helps to reduce the feeling of loneliness, as well as the intervention programs that aim to reduce loneliness, may benefit from these findings.

The present study aimed to investigate the association between online parent-child communication and left-behind children’s adaptation as well as the underlying mechanisms – the mediating role of parent-child relationship and the moderating role of gratitude. A sample of 756 left-behind children (53.94% boys, Mage = 14.42) in central China was recruited to complete measures on online parent-child communication, parent-child relationship, gratitude, and subjective well-being. Results showed that online parent-child communication was positively associated with left-behind children’s subjective well-being, and parent-child relationship could mediate this relationship. Moreover, both the direct effect of online parent-child communication on left-behind children’ subjective well-being and the mediating effect of parent-child relationship were moderated by gratitude, they were stronger among individuals with higher gratitude. This study not only deepens our understanding on left-behind children’ development and adaptation in current information society, but also provides guidance for the intervention and improvement of their adaptation.

Appearance pressure from mass media and appearance social comparisons have been implicated in theory and research on disordered eating. However, mediating effects of upward and downward appearance comparisons on associations between appearance pressure and changes in disordered eating among women versus men have not been examined within longitudinal research designs. To address this gap, undergraduate students (1539 women and 882 men) from China completed self-report measures of appearance pressure from mass media; upward and downward appearance comparisons with more and less physically attractive peers, respectively; and disordered eating at baseline and/or a 12-month follow-up. Analyses indicated that, after controlling for gender differences on demographics and initial levels of disordered eating, baseline pressure from mass media contributed to the prediction of disordered eating at follow-up within each gender. Among women, in particular, follow-up upward appearance comparisons with peers mediated this association. For men but not for women, downward appearance comparisons with peers emerged as a significant mediator. Findings underscored differential relations of appearance comparisons with exacerbations in disordered eating among women versus men and suggested that associated interventions might be tailored on the basis of gender.

The objective of this study was to examine the mechanisms (the mediating role of psychological security and the moderating role of growth mindset) underlying the association between cyberbullying victimization and depression among adolescents. A sample of 755 adolescents (Mage = 13.35 &plusmn, 1.02, 373 boys) was recruited from two junior high schools, and the participants were asked to voluntarily complete a set of measures, including the cyberbullying victimization subscale in the Chinese version of the Cyberbullying Inventory, the Chinese version of the Security Questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Growth Mindset Inventory. The results indicated that: (1) cyberbullying victimization was positively associated with depression through the mediating effect of psychological security and (2) both the direct association between cyberbullying victimization and depression and the indirect association through the mediating effect of psychological security were moderated by growth mindset. Specifically, growth mindset could significantly alleviate the adverse effects of cyberbullying victimization on psychological security and on depression. These findings not only shed light on the mechanisms linking cyberbullying victimization to depression among adolescents, but also provide an empirical basis for formulating prevention and/or intervention programs aimed at reducing depression levels and the negative influences of cyberbullying victimization among adolescents.

Internet has been a popular medium and means to interconnect with others, with increasing opportunities for inclusion; at the same time, being ignored and excluded, a phenomenon referring to cyber-ostraism also increased. This study investigated the influence of cyber-ostracism on Chinese adolescents' depression, and the moderating role of optimism between them. First, a scale with 14-item was developed to measure the cyber-ostracism experience of adolescents. Then, a survey was conducted among 1626 Chinese adolescents aged 12–18, and the results showed that: (1) cyber-ostracism was positively correlated with depression, while optimism was negatively correlated with depression, (2) optimism could moderate the influence of cyber-ostracism on depression, with a stronger association for adolescents with low level of optimism. Results indicated that cyber-ostracism is a negative interpersonal experience as ostracism in real life, while optimism could alleviate the detrimental effect of cyber-ostracism.

The present study aimed to test the relation between adolescents’ online real-self presentation and depression, as well as the mediating role of social support and moderating role of dispositional optimism. A sample of 1742 Chinese adolescents (girl = 961, mean age = 14.35 ± 1.52 years) completed questionnaires of depression, online real-self presentation, social support, and dispositional optimism. Results of correlation and regression analyses showed that adolescents’ online real-self presentation could predict decreased depression via increasing social support. What’s more, the mediation effect was moderated by dispositional optimism, in which the mediation effect was stronger among adolescents with low dispositional optimism than those with high dispositional optimism. This study explained how and when online real-self presentation affected adolescents’ depressive symptoms, and provided a deeper understanding of the relation between online self-presentation and adolescents’ mental health. The implications and limitations were discussed.

Research has revealed that mobile phone addiction was a risk factor for poor sleep quality, however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms that may mediate or moderate this association. This study examined the mediating role of rumination and moderating role of mindfulness in the association between mobile phone addiction and sleep quality. A sample of 1196 Chinese adolescents was recruited to complete measures of mobile phone addiction, sleep quality, rumination and mindfulness. Results showed that rumination partially mediated the relationship between mobile phone addiction and sleep quality. Besides, both the effect of mobile phone addiction on sleep quality and the mediating effect of rumination were moderated by mindfulness, and both of the two effects were stronger for individuals with lower mindfulness. The present study can advance our understanding of how and when mobile phone addiction leads to poor sleep quality. Limitations and implications of this study are discussed. Mobile phone addiction was significantly correlated with sleep quality in adolescents.Rumination partially mediated the relation between mobile phone addiction and sleep quality.Mindfulness moderated the relation between mobile phone addiction and sleep quality.Mindfulness moderated the mediating role of rumination in the relation between mobile phone addiction and sleep quality.

Studies have revealed that upward social comparison on social network sites (SNSs) was a risk factor for depressive symptoms, however, little is known about the underlying processes that may mediate or moderate this relationship. This study extended prior research by examining the mediating role of self-esteem and the moderating role of optimism in this relationship. A sample of 1205 Chinese undergraduate students completed measures of upward social comparison on SNSs, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and optimism. Results showed that self-esteem partially mediated the relation between upward social comparison on SNSs and depressive symptoms. In addition, the direct effect of upward social comparison on SNSs on depressive symptoms and the mediating effect of self-esteem were both moderated by optimism. The two effects were more potent for individuals with low optimism than for those with high optimism. The present study contributes to a better understanding of how and when upward social comparison on SNSs increases the risk of depressive symptoms. Limitations and implications of this study are discussed.

An increasing number of studies have established an association between socioeconomic inequality and life satisfaction, but the underlying mediating and moderating mechanisms of this association have not been fully identified. The present study investigated the effect of family socioeconomic status (SES) on life satisfaction in late childhood and adolescence; examined the mediating effect of optimism in the association between family SES and life satisfaction; and tested whether this mediating process varied across late childhood and adolescence. A sample of 552 Chinese children in late childhood (M age = 10.73 years, SD = 0.96) and 637 Chinese adolescents (M age = 14.71 years, SD = 1.60) was recruited to complete questionnaires regarding family SES, optimism, and life satisfaction. Results indicated that socioeconomic inequality was associated with life satisfaction in Chinese children and adolescents. Moreover, optimism partially mediated the relation between family SES and life satisfaction, and developmental period moderated this mediation effect. Specifically, the mediation effect was found in adolescence, but not in late childhood, indicating an adolescent-emergent model (Chen et al. in Psychol Bull 128(2):295–329, 2002; in Soc Sci Med 62(9):2161–2170, 2006). The meaning and implications of socioeconomic inequality in different development periods and applied considerations to improve life satisfaction in late childhood and adolescence are discussed.

Studies have revealed that bullying victimization was a risk factor for symptoms of depression, however, less is known about the underlying processes that may mediate or moderate this relationship. This study examined the mediating effect of resilience and moderating effect of mindfulness in the relation between bullying victimization and symptoms of depression. 448 Chinese children in grade 3 to grade 6 were recruited to complete the revised Bully/Victim Questionnaire, the Chinese version of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children, the Child and Youth Resilience Measure, as well as the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure. Results showed that resilience partially mediated the relation between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms. Besides, both the effect of bullying victimization on depressive symptoms and the mediating effect of resilience were moderated by mindfulness, and both of the two effects were stronger for children with low mindfulness. The present study can contribute to a better understanding of how and when bullying victimization increases the risk of depression. It suggests that early intervention concerning diminishing negative effects of bullying victimization may start with increasing individual resilience and mindfulness.

Research has demonstrated the important roles of dispositional optimism played in individuals' life quality. But little is known about age differences in dispositional optimism especially in late childhood and adolescence. This study examined age differences in dispositional optimism in Chinese children and adolescents ( N = 2738; M age = 12.75 years; SD = 2.53; age range 9–19). Results revealed that the bi-dimensional structure of dispositional optimism (i.e., optimism and pessimism) was similar in each grade. Optimism had a negative linear pattern with age. Pessimism decreased from strongly to weakly, showing a curvilinear pattern with age. Overall optimism (representing the presence of optimism and the lack of pessimism) had a positive linear relationship with age. Moreover, only the development of pessimism was moderated by gender and family socioeconomic status. These findings suggest that dispositional optimism varies by age, and that optimism and pessimism are partially independent.

Though ostracism often increases the risk for depression, the underlying processes that may moderate this relationship are largely unknown. Based on the diathesis–stress model of depression, the aim of this study is to examine the effect of resilience in the relation between ostracism and depression among adolescents. The Ostracism Experience Scale for Adolescents, Connor and Davidson's Resilience Scale, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were administered to 1126 adolescents in China. Results showed that, ostracism was positively associated with depression, while resilience was negatively associated with depression. Resilience was also found to moderate the association between ostracism and depression, with a stronger effect for individuals with low resilience. These results suggest that resilience could be a positive personality trait for alleviating the detrimental effect of ostracism, and are discussed in terms of their limitations and implications.

Research has demonstrated that family socioeconomic status is an important determinant of people's life satisfaction, in that individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are typically less satisfied with their life than the rich. But little is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relation. The present study examined the mediation effect of adolescents' self-esteem in the association between socioeconomic status and life satisfaction, and whether this mediating process was moderated by optimism. A sample of 668 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 14.53 years, SD = 1.81) completed anonymous questionnaires regarding SES, life satisfaction, self-esteem and optimism. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the association between SES and life satisfaction was mediated by self-esteem. Moreover, the mediating effect of self-esteem was moderated by optimism, with the mediating effect being stronger for individuals with low optimism than for those with high optimism. These findings can be beneficial to our understanding of how and when SES impacts adolescents' well-being. Moreover, the present study highlighted the importance of using the organism-environment interaction to explore potential protective factors for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. A person cannot choose where he comes from (e.g., low socioeconomic status), but can choose whom he wants to be (e.g., optimist).

Response inhibition to angry expressions is impaired in individuals with high trait aggression. Yet, the underlying cognitive neural mechanism of it remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the underlying cognitive neural mechanisms of response inhibition to angry expressions in individuals with high trait aggression and whether there was emotion-specificity of response inhibition in individuals with high trait aggression. 58 individuals (29 participants with high trait aggression) completed an emotional Go/NoGo task, during which participants' EEG were recorded. Results indicated that individuals with high trait aggression showed smaller NoGo P3 effect than individuals with low trait aggression, in particular facing angry or fearful expressions. These results suggest that individuals with high trait aggression show deficits in response inhibition, in particular facing angry expressions, and these deficits exist in the later stage of response inhibition, which is closely related to the actual inhibition of the motor system; there is no emotion-specificity of response inhibition in individuals with high trait aggression.

Growth mindset and grit have attracted much attention in educational research recently. Yet the underlying mechanisms that relate these variables to each other as well as to other variables remain largely unclear. This study investigates the relationships among growth mindset, learning motivations, and grit. We recruited a total of 1,842 students (884 males and 958 females) from third to ninth grade in a Chinese city. Results from the structural equation model analyzing the students’ responses showed that learning motivations partially mediate the relationship between growth mindset and grit. Specifically, intrinsic motivation and identified regulation of extrinsic motivation are positively associated with growth mindset and grit, while external regulation of extrinsic motivation is negatively associated with them. Additionally, introjected regulation of extrinsic motivation is uncorrelated with these two variables. This study furthers the understanding of the underlying mechanisms through which growth mindset and grit positively impact education.

Background Social networking sites (SNSs), which provide abundant social comparison opportunities, are ubiquitous around the world, especially among adolescents. In China, Qzone stands out as the most popular SNS. Due to the opportunity it provides for meticulous self-presentation, SNS may give the impression that others are doing better, which is detrimental to individuals’ well-being. Based on social comparison theory, the current study aimed to investigate the association between Chinese adolescents’ SNS (Qzone) use and depression, as well as the mediating role of negative social comparison and the moderating role of self-esteem. Method A total of 764 adolescents (aged 12–18 years, M = 14.23, SD = 1.75), who had an active Qzone account, were recruited voluntarily to complete questionnaires on Qzone use intensity, negative social comparison on Qzone, self-esteem, and depression. Results More intense Qzone use was associated with higher level of negative social comparison on Qzone, which fully mediated the association between Qzone use and depression. Moreover, the mediating effect of negative social comparison on Qzone was moderated by self-esteem. The specific link between Qzone use and negative social comparison was weaker among adolescents with high self-esteem than those with low self-esteem. Limitations As all the data in this study were self-reported and cross-sectional, causal associations cannot be identified. Additionally, the specific activities on SNS were not identified. Conclusions Negative social comparison may be a key factor and mechanism accounting for the positive association between SNS use and depression, while self-esteem could protect adolescents from the adverse outcome of SNS use.

With the popularity of social networking sites (SNSs), the problems of SNS addiction have been increasing. Research has revealed the association between SNS addiction and irrational procrastination. However, the mechanism underlying this relation is still unclear. The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of social networking site fatigue and the moderating role of effortful control in this link among Chinese undergraduate students. The Social Networking Site Addiction Scale, Social Networking Service Fatigue Scale, Effortful Control Scale and Irrational Procrastination Scale were completed by 1,085 Chinese undergraduate students. Results indicated that SNS addiction, SNS fatigue and irrational procrastination were positively correlated with each other, and negatively correlated with effortful control. Further analyses revealed that, SNS addiction has a direct effect on irrational procrastination. SNS fatigue mediated the relationship between SNS addiction and irrational procrastination. Both direct and indirect effects of SNS addiction on irrational procrastination were moderated by effortful control. Specifically, this effect was stronger for people with lower effortful control. These findings help clarify the mechanism underlying the association between SNS addiction and irrational procrastination, which have potential implications for intervention.