The longitudinal association between short video addiction and self-concept clarity: a study based on random intercept cross-lagged panel model

Short video applications represent the latest evolution in social media. The detrimental effects of short video addiction (SVA) on mental health have garnered increasing attention. As self-concept clarity (SCC) serves as a pivotal developmental indicator in adolescence, elucidating the SVA-SCC relationship is crucial for fostering psychological well-being in emerging adults. This study explores the reciprocal relationship between SCC and SVA. Employing a longitudinal design, 514 college students were tracked over one year across three waves of surveys at six-month intervals to assess SVA and SCC. The data were analyzed using a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM). Results showed that at the between-person level, SVA was significantly negatively correlated with SCC (β = -0.392, SE = 0.106, p < 0.001); at the within-person level, SCC can predict the development of SVA in a negative direction (β = -0.172, -0.215; SE = 0.084, 0.100; p < 0.05), but no reverse effect was observed. This study indicated that the SCC of emerging adults significantly influenced both the severity and developmental trajectory of SVA, whereas SVA shows no statistically significant effect on SCC. Therefore, the prevention and mitigation of SVA should focus on the development of SCC.