earticle

영어

The purpose of this study is to examine gender differences in the direct and indirect impacts of SNS use intensity (physical vs. emotional use) and SNS use type (active vs. passive use) on depression, focusing on the mediating role of upward social comparison. To this end, an online survey of 230 college students was conducted. The findings of this study revealed that emotional use, active use, and upward social comparison directly influenced depression in a negative direction for female students. On the other hand, for male students, upward social comparison fully mediated the relationship between emotional use and depression as well as the relationship between passive use and depression. This study’s findings provide a deeper understanding of the impacts of SNS use on young adults’ mental health, and offer practical implications for health professionals and policymakers designing educational interventions to promote proper SNS use among young adults.