Identification of central symptoms in problematic WeChat use and depression among Chinese college students: a network analysis

Background: Previous research has identified a positive relationship between problematic social media use and depression. However, with the increasing diversification and personalization of social media platforms, the impact of different platforms on college students varies significantly. It is necessary to examine the specific symptom network of problematic use in certain platforms and its relationship with depression. Therefore, this study aims to address these gaps by investigating the symptom network of problematic WeChat use among college students and identifying bridge symptoms linking problematic WeChat use to depression.

Method: A total of 6,060 Chinese college students (Mean age = 18.32; range 16-21; 60.66% male, 39.34% female) were recruited and provided self-reports on their problematic WeChat use and depression levels. Latent profile analysis was employed to identify the profiles of problematic WeChat users. Subsequently, four network structures relating to problematic WeChat use and its association with depression were constructed among problematic users.

Results: The analysis revealed three heterogeneous groups of college students regarding their WeChat use, with 11.4% classified as problematic users. Network analysis indicated that the central symptoms of problematic WeChat use were "I feel the need to use WeChat with increasing amounts of time to achieve satisfaction" and "I have used WeChat to relieve of loneliness and stress". No significant gender differences were found in the network structure of problematic WeChat use; the network strength was significantly higher among male students compared to female students. Within the combined network, the central symptoms included "self-dislike," "pessimism," "I feel happy and satisfied when I am on WeChat," and "guilt." A strong association was observed between problematic WeChat use and depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: The findings of this study further elucidate the impact of problematic WeChat use on depression among college students, providing both theoretical and practical insights for developing interventions targeting WeChat use and depression within this demographic.