When Confucian Culture Meets Digital Stress: Moderators of Social Media Harm in Chinese Adolescents
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When Confucian Culture Meets Digital Stress: Moderators of Social Media Harm in Chinese Adolescents

Ruixue Wang 1*
1 Universiti Utara Malaysia
*Corresponding author: wangwan5525@gmail.com
Published on 9 September 2025
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LNEP Vol.119
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-365-9
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-366-6
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Abstract

This study examines the psychological impact of negative social media exposure on Chinese adolescents, with particular attention to the moderating roles of psychological resilience, family connectedness, and digital literacy. Grounded in Ecological Systems Theory, a cross-sectional survey was administered to 500 high school students using validated psychometric instruments to assess levels of exposure, mental health outcomes, and protective factors. The findings indicate that frequent exposure to harmful online content significantly predicted higher levels of depression and suicidal ideation, underscoring the risks posed by digital environments. Psychological resilience emerged as a significant moderator, weakening the relationship between negative exposure and psychological distress, thereby suggesting its potential as a protective resource. In contrast, family connectedness and digital literacy did not significantly buffer these effects, pointing to cultural and contextual variations in protective mechanisms. These results emphasize the need for resilience-based interventions and further culturally sensitive research on adolescent digital well-being in non-Western societies.

Keywords:

social media, adolescent mental health, psychological resilience, family connectedness, digital literacy

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Wang,R. (2025). When Confucian Culture Meets Digital Stress: Moderators of Social Media Harm in Chinese Adolescents. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,119,1-7.

References

[1]. Twenge JM, Campbell WK. Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive Medicine Reports 2018; 12: 271–83. https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003.

[2]. Jaycox LH, Murphy ER, Zehr JL, Pearson JL, Avenevoli S. Social Media and Suicide Risk in Youth. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7: e2441499. https: //doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.41499.

[3]. Bronfenbrenner U. Ecological systems theory. Encyclopedia of Psychology, Vol. 3., Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association; 2000, p. 129–33.

[4]. Keles B, McCrae N, Grealish A. A systematic review: the influence of social media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth 2020; 25: 79–93. https: //doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1590851.

[5]. Balt E, Mérelle S, Robinson J, Popma A, Creemers D, van den Brand I, van Bergen D, Rasing S, Mulder W, Gilissen R. Social media use of adolescents who died by suicide: lessons from a psychological autopsy study. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2023; 17: 48. https: //doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00597-9.

[6]. Nesi J. The Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health. North Carolina Medical Journal 2020; 81: 116–21. https: //doi.org/10.18043/ncm.81.2.116.

[7]. Yuan GF, Zhang R, Qiao S, Li X, Shen Z, Zhou Y. Exploring the Longitudinal Influence of Perceived Social Support, HIV Stigma, and Future Orientation on Depressive Symptoms Among People Living with HIV in China. AIDS Behav 2024; 28: 1662–72. https: //doi.org/10.1007/s10461-024-04292-4.

[8]. O’Reilly M, Dogra N, Whiteman N, Hughes J, Eruyar S, Reilly P. Is social media bad for mental health and wellbeing? Exploring the perspectives of adolescents. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2018; 23: 601–13. https: //doi.org/10.1177/1359104518775154.

[9]. Masten AS. Ordinary magic: Resilience processes in development. American Psychologist 2001; 56: 227–38. https: //doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.227.

[10]. Byars J, Graybill E, Wellons Q, Harper L, Byars J, Graybill E, Wellons Q, Harper L. Monitoring Social Media and Technology Use to Prevent Youth Suicide and School Violence. Contemp School Psychol 2020; 24: 318–26. https: //doi.org/10.1007/s40688-020-00277-x.

[11]. Cui S, Zhao Y, Qie R. Who needs What Support? Exploring the relationship between intergenerational support and digital media use among Chinese older adults: A latent profile analysis. Computers in Human Behavior 2025; 164: 108506. https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2024.108506.

[12]. Fu J. Chinese youth performing identities and navigating belonging online. Journal of Youth Studies 2018; 21: 129–43. https: //doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2017.1355444.

[13]. Frison E, Eggermont S. The impact of daily stress on adolescents’ depressed mood: The role of social support seeking through Facebook. Computers in Human Behavior 2015; 44: 315–25. https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.11.070.

[14]. Livingstone S, Helsper E. Gradations in digital inclusion: children, young people and the digital divide. New Media & Society 2007; 9: 671–96. https: //doi.org/10.1177/1461444807080335.

[15]. Roberts RE. Reliability of the CES-D scale in different ethnic contexts. Psychiatry Research 1980; 2: 125–34. https: //doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(80)90069-4.

[16]. Davis JM. Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment 1992; 10: 298–301. https: //doi.org/10.1177/073428299201000311.

[17]. Resnick MD. Protecting Adolescents From Harm. JAMA 1997; 278: 823. https: //doi.org/10.1001/jama.1997.03550100049038.

[18]. Kanth DB, Indumathy J, Kadhiravan S, Nagasubramaniyan G, Sri Lekha PP. Family Connectedness Scale. In: Kanth DB, Indumathy J, Kadhiravan S, Nagasubramaniyan G, Sri Lekha PP, editors. Measuring Couples and Family Dynamics in India: Cultural Adaptations and Validations, Singapore: Springer Nature; 2024, p. 69–76.

[19]. Ng W. Can we teach digital natives digital literacy? Computers & Education 2012; 59: 1065–78. https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.04.016.

References

[1]. Twenge JM, Campbell WK. Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive Medicine Reports 2018; 12: 271–83. https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003.

[2]. Jaycox LH, Murphy ER, Zehr JL, Pearson JL, Avenevoli S. Social Media and Suicide Risk in Youth. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7: e2441499. https: //doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.41499.

[3]. Bronfenbrenner U. Ecological systems theory. Encyclopedia of Psychology, Vol. 3., Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association; 2000, p. 129–33.

[4]. Keles B, McCrae N, Grealish A. A systematic review: the influence of social media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth 2020; 25: 79–93. https: //doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1590851.

[5]. Balt E, Mérelle S, Robinson J, Popma A, Creemers D, van den Brand I, van Bergen D, Rasing S, Mulder W, Gilissen R. Social media use of adolescents who died by suicide: lessons from a psychological autopsy study. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2023; 17: 48. https: //doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00597-9.

[6]. Nesi J. The Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health. North Carolina Medical Journal 2020; 81: 116–21. https: //doi.org/10.18043/ncm.81.2.116.

[7]. Yuan GF, Zhang R, Qiao S, Li X, Shen Z, Zhou Y. Exploring the Longitudinal Influence of Perceived Social Support, HIV Stigma, and Future Orientation on Depressive Symptoms Among People Living with HIV in China. AIDS Behav 2024; 28: 1662–72. https: //doi.org/10.1007/s10461-024-04292-4.

[8]. O’Reilly M, Dogra N, Whiteman N, Hughes J, Eruyar S, Reilly P. Is social media bad for mental health and wellbeing? Exploring the perspectives of adolescents. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2018; 23: 601–13. https: //doi.org/10.1177/1359104518775154.

[9]. Masten AS. Ordinary magic: Resilience processes in development. American Psychologist 2001; 56: 227–38. https: //doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.227.

[10]. Byars J, Graybill E, Wellons Q, Harper L, Byars J, Graybill E, Wellons Q, Harper L. Monitoring Social Media and Technology Use to Prevent Youth Suicide and School Violence. Contemp School Psychol 2020; 24: 318–26. https: //doi.org/10.1007/s40688-020-00277-x.

[11]. Cui S, Zhao Y, Qie R. Who needs What Support? Exploring the relationship between intergenerational support and digital media use among Chinese older adults: A latent profile analysis. Computers in Human Behavior 2025; 164: 108506. https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2024.108506.

[12]. Fu J. Chinese youth performing identities and navigating belonging online. Journal of Youth Studies 2018; 21: 129–43. https: //doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2017.1355444.

[13]. Frison E, Eggermont S. The impact of daily stress on adolescents’ depressed mood: The role of social support seeking through Facebook. Computers in Human Behavior 2015; 44: 315–25. https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.11.070.

[14]. Livingstone S, Helsper E. Gradations in digital inclusion: children, young people and the digital divide. New Media & Society 2007; 9: 671–96. https: //doi.org/10.1177/1461444807080335.

[15]. Roberts RE. Reliability of the CES-D scale in different ethnic contexts. Psychiatry Research 1980; 2: 125–34. https: //doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(80)90069-4.

[16]. Davis JM. Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment 1992; 10: 298–301. https: //doi.org/10.1177/073428299201000311.

[17]. Resnick MD. Protecting Adolescents From Harm. JAMA 1997; 278: 823. https: //doi.org/10.1001/jama.1997.03550100049038.

[18]. Kanth DB, Indumathy J, Kadhiravan S, Nagasubramaniyan G, Sri Lekha PP. Family Connectedness Scale. In: Kanth DB, Indumathy J, Kadhiravan S, Nagasubramaniyan G, Sri Lekha PP, editors. Measuring Couples and Family Dynamics in India: Cultural Adaptations and Validations, Singapore: Springer Nature; 2024, p. 69–76.

[19]. Ng W. Can we teach digital natives digital literacy? Computers & Education 2012; 59: 1065–78. https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.04.016.

Cite this article

Wang,R. (2025). When Confucian Culture Meets Digital Stress: Moderators of Social Media Harm in Chinese Adolescents. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,119,1-7.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies

ISBN: 978-1-80590-365-9(Print) / 978-1-80590-366-6(Online)
Editor: Enrique Mallen
Conference website: https://2025.icihcs.org/
Conference date: 17 November 2025
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.119
ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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