Effects of Online Social Support and Perceived Social Support on the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Problematic Smartphone Usage Among Chinese Undergraduates

Chengjia Zhao, 1 Huihui Xu, 1 Xinyi Lai, 1 Xue Yang, 2 Xiaolian Tu, 3 Nani Ding, 4Yijun Lv, 5Guohua Zhang 1, 6 1Department of Psychology, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, People’s Republic of China; 2Center for HealthBehaviours Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’sRepublic of China; 3School of Renji, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China; 4School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, People’s Republic of China; 5Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, People’s Republic of China; 6The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325007, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence:Guohua Zhang; Yijun LvTel +86 0577- 8668 9925; +86 0577- 86699111Emailzghcnu@wmu.edu.cn; lyj@wmu.edu.cnPurpose: Recent research has identified a relationship between perceived stress and problematic smartphone usage. However, little is known about the underlying mediating and moderating mechanisms. The present study aimed to test the relationship between perceived stress and problematic smartphone usage as well as the mediating role of online social support and the moderating role of perceived social support among Chinese undergraduates.Patients and Methods: A sample of 1123 college students participated in the study. The Perceived Stress Scale, Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale, Online Social Support Questionnaire, and Perceived Social Support Scale were used.Results: Perceived stress was significantly and positively associated with problematic smartphone usage, and online social support partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress and problematic smartphone usage. Moderated mediation analysis suggested that perceived social support moderated the association between perceived stress and online social support. This relationship became stronger for college students with lower levels of perceived social support.Conclusion: The results of this study can contribute to a better understanding of how perceived stress increases the risk of problematic smartphone usage. The importance of reducing online social support and enhancing perceived social support in preventing undergraduates’ problematic smartphone usage is highlighted. The findings should be taken with caution given the convenience sampling and cross-sectional study design.Keywords: problematic smartphone usage, perceived stress, online social support, perceived social support, Chinese undergraduates