JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The rapid development of digital technologies has intensified concerns about social media addiction, particularly among university students. Parenting styles may influence this risk, with unmet interpersonal needs acting as potential mediators.

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate whether perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness mediate the relationship between parenting and social media addiction among university students.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,766 university students from March to May 2023. Parenting styles were assessed using the short-form Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran for Chinese, unmet interpersonal needs via the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, and social media addiction through the Social Network Addiction Tendency Scale. Parenting profiles were identified using latent profile analysis, and mediation models were examined through path analysis.

Results:

Three parenting profiles were identified: supportive (61.9%, n = 1,094), emotionally distant (10.9%, n = 192), and controlling—critical (27.2%, n = 480). Path analyses indicated indirect effects of parenting profile on social media addiction via unmet interpersonal needs. Compared to the supportive group, the emotionally distant (β = 0.107 for perceived burdensomeness; β = 0.354 for thwarted belongingness) and controlling—critical groups (β = 0.543 for perceived burdensomeness; β = 0.457 for thwarted belongingness) reported higher unmet interpersonal needs, which in turn were positively associated with social media addiction (β = 0.119 for perceived burdensomeness; β = 0.158 for thwarted belongingness). Multi-group analyses further showed that perceived burdensomeness was significantly associated with social media addiction among male students (β = 0.180, P < .001), but not among female students (β = 0.038, P = 0.298).

Conclusions:

Unmet interpersonal needs mediate the link between maladaptive parenting and social media addiction. Early interventions that promote emotional warmth and reduce rejecting and controlling behaviors may help prevent digital dependence among young adults, particularly when tailored to specific interpersonal vulnerabilities.