Association Between Social Networking Site Use Intensity and Depression Among Chinese Pregnant Women: Cross-sectional Study

Path analysis reveals cross-country differences between Czech and Chinese university students in effect of internet and smartphone addiction, mental health, and personality traits on academic achievement in the post-pandemic era

Despite extensive evidence on the impact of various mental health issues including smartphone/internet addiction, and personality traits on academic achievement, little is known about the complex interactions between multiple of these factors simultaneously, as well as cross-country differences in these nuanced relationships. In particular, understanding the role of the mentioned addictions has become increasingly important in recent years in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this cross-country study was to investigate, using path analysis, the complex relationships between mental health determinants (depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, and smartphone/internet addiction) and academic achievement in 1785 Czech and Chinese university students using an online battery of psychological tests. The results confirmed the previously described effect of multiple factors (anxiety, stress, resilience, smartphone/internet addiction, personality traits, and sex, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness) on academic achievement, overlapping in most cases for both groups of students. At the same time, however, different country-dependent patterns of interactions emerged. For the Czech students, the variables formed a complex network of interacting factors, whereas for the Chinese students, the effect of each cluster of factors was separate for individual domains of academic achievement. These cross-country differences have implications particularly for planning and targeting the most effective interventions to promote and develop academic achievement.

The Impact of Mobile Social Media Use on Depressive Mood Among College Students: A Chain Mediating Effect of Upward Social Comparison and Cognitive Overload

Background

The 18-24 age group has a much higher rate of depression risk than other age groups, and this age group has the highest proportion among users of mobile social media. The relationship between the use of mobile social media and depressive mood is inconsistent and the mechanism of action is controversial.

Purpose

This study explored the relationship among the intensity of social media use, upward social comparison, cognitive overload and depressive mood.

Methods

In this research, we used the Brief Self-rating Depression Scale (PHQ-9), the Social Media Usage Intensity Questionnaire, the Social Comparison Scale on Social Networking Sites and the Social Networking Site Cognitive Overload Scale to investigate the depressive mood and mobile social media use of 568 college students.

Results

The intensity of mobile social media use, social networking site upward social comparison, and social networking site cognitive overload are all positively correlated with depressive mood. The intensity of mobile social media use has a positive predictive effect on depressive mood, with upward social comparison and cognitive overload acting as independent mediators in the relationship between mobile social media use intensity and depressive symptoms, as well as exhibiting a chained mediating effect of upward social comparison-cognitive overload.

Conclusion

The upward social comparison and cognitive load that occur during the use of mobile social media are important predictive factors for the occurrence of depressive mood. This study is a supplement to the mechanism of the relationship between mobile social media use and depression, providing more evidence-based evidence and intervention directions for university teachers, mobile social media developers, and psychologists.

Efficacy of a WeChat-Based Multimodal Digital Transformation Management Model in New-Onset Mild to Moderate Hypertension: Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

The advantages of multimodal digitally transformed mobile health management for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate hypertension are not yet established.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of a novel WeChat-based multimodal digital transforming management model in mobile health blood pressure (BP) management.

METHODS

This randomized controlled clinical trial included 175 individuals with new-onset mild to moderate hypertension who were admitted to our center between September and October 2022. The patients were randomly assigned to either the multimodal intervention group (n=88) or the usual care group (n=87). The primary composite outcome was home and office BP differences after 6 months. The major secondary outcomes were 6-month quality-of-life scores, including the self-rating anxiety scale, self-rating depression scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

RESULTS

The mean home BP decreased from 151.74 (SD 8.02)/94.22 (SD 9.32) to 126.19 (SD 8.45)/82.28 (SD 9.26) mm Hg in the multimodal intervention group and from 150.78 (SD 7.87)/91.53 (SD 9.78) to 133.48 (SD 10.86)/84.45 (SD 9.19) mm Hg in the usual care group, with a mean difference in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of -8.25 mm Hg (95% CI -11.71 to -4.78 mm Hg; P<.001) and -4.85 mm Hg (95% CI -8.41 to -1.30 mm Hg; P=.008), respectively. The mean office BP decreased from 153.64 (SD 8.39)/93.56 (SD 8.45) to 127.81 (SD 8.04)/ 82.16 (SD 8.06) mm Hg in the multimodal intervention group and from 151.48 (SD 7.14)/(91.31 (SD 9.61) to 134.92 (SD 10.11)/85.09 (SD 8.26) mm Hg in the usual care group, with a mean difference in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of -9.27 mm Hg (95% CI -12.62 to -5.91 mm Hg; P<.001) and -5.18 mm Hg (95% CI -8.47 to -1.89 mm Hg; P=.002), respectively. From baseline to 6 months, home BP control <140/90 mm Hg was achieved in 64 (72.7%) patients in the multimodal intervention group and 46 (52.9%) patients in the usual care group (P=.007). Meanwhile, home BP control <130/80 mm Hg was achieved in 32 (36.4%) patients in the multimodal intervention group and 16 (18.4%) patients in the usual care group (P=.008). After 6 months, there were significant differences in the quality-of-life total and graded scores, including self-rating anxiety scale scores (P=.04), self-rating depression scale scores (P=.03), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores (P<.001), in the multimodal intervention group compared with the usual care group.

CONCLUSIONS

The WeChat-based multimodal intervention model improved the BP control rates and lowered the BP levels more than the usual care approach. The multimodal digital transforming management model for hypertension represents an emerging medical practice that utilizes the individual's various risk factor profiles for primary care and personalized therapy decision-making in patients with hypertension.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200063550; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=175816.