Perceived social support and social/non-social problematic smartphone use among Chinese university students: a cross-sectional study of indirect associations via social anxiety

Social anxiety was associated with both PSU subtypes and was more strongly linked to NSPSU than SPSU in this sample. Perceived social support was indirectly associated with lower PSU through lower social anxiety, whereas direct associations with PSU subtypes were not significant. Given the cross-sectional design, findings reflect theory-consistent associations rather than causal effects.