Social connectedness as a pathway linking active social media use and mental health: A mixed-methods study of Chinese international students in the U.S.

Abstract Recent policy actions in several U.S. states have proposed or implemented restrictions on social media platforms such as WeChat. For Chinese international students who rely on these platforms to maintain relationships with family and friends in their home countries, such changes may threaten to cut their social connections and influence their well-being. Given this situation, this study examined the relationships among active social media use, social connectedness, psychological distress, and well-being among Chinese international students in U.S. higher education. We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed methods study with 105 survey responses and six interviews. Results indicated that female international students reported lower levels of anxiety and loneliness, as well as higher levels of social connectedness and positive emotions compared with male students. In accordance with social capital theory, the mediation analyses further showed that social connectedness mediated the relationship between active social media use and both lower psychological distress and higher well-being. Qualitative interviews further explained how social media acts as a bridge for meaningful relationships, as well as how social connectedness brings psychological comfort and helps overcome mental distress. The unique contribution is the empirical evidence of how social media restrictions can disrupt social connectedness and trigger negative emotions. These integrated findings highlight the central role of active social media use in shaping Chinese international students’ social connectedness and mental health. Implications for tailored campus mental health support and digital communication policies are discussed.