The effects of social media addiction on college students’ psychological anxiety: the mediating role of self-efficacy and coping styles

This study provides robust evidence for a multi-pathway model linking social media addiction to psychological anxiety among Chinese college students. SMA's effects go beyond direct impacts, disrupting key psychological defenses like self-efficacy and adaptive coping. The chain mediation effect exposes a concerning sequential psychological erosion, especially given the sample's high baseline anxiety (mean SAS = 63.08). These findings emphasize the need for holistic interventions targeting addiction, boosting self-efficacy, and fostering adaptive coping. They also highlight the importance of university mental health services and digital wellness programs in tackling the escalating mental health challenges faced by digitally immersed students.