University of Groningen
Can Social Networking Sites Alleviate Depression? The Relation between Authentic Online
Self-Presentation and Adolescent Depression
Wang, Pengcheng; Wang, Xingchao; Zhao, Meng; Wu, Yingqiu; Wang, Yuhui; Lei, Li
Published in:
Current Psychology
DOI:
10.1007/s12144-017-9711-8
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Wang, P., Wang, X., Zhao, M., Wu, Y., Wang, Y., & Lei, L. (2019). Can Social Networking Sites Alleviate
Depression? The Relation between Authentic Online Self-Presentation and Adolescent Depression: a
Mediation Model of Perceived Social Support and Rumination.
Current Psychology
,
38
(6), 1512-1521.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9711-8
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Can Social Networking Sites Alleviate Depression? The Relation
between Authentic Online Self-Presentation and Adolescent
Depression: a Mediation Model of Perceived Social
Support and Rumination
#
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2017
Abstract Ample evidence suggests that authentic self-
presentation enhances personal well-being including reduced
depression in the offline context, but it is unclear yet whether
depression can be reduced by authentic self-presentation in the
social networking sites (SNSs) environment. The present
study investigated whether authentic self-presentation would
predict reduced depression in the SNSs context. Further, we
explored whether perceived social support and rumination
would mediate the link between authentic self-presentation
on SNSs and depression. A sample of 365 middle school
students completed measures regarding demographics, au-
thentic self-presentation on SNSs, depression, perceived so-
cial support, and rumination. The results indicated that: (a)
authentic self-presentation on SNSs would predict reduced
depression; (b) both perceived social support and rumination
mediated the association between authentic self-presentation
on SNSs and depression in an unparalleled fashion; and (c)
perceived social support a nd rumination sequentially me-
diated the relation between authentic self-presentation on
SNSs and depression. Implications of taking SNSs as an
alternative way to detect and alleviate adolescent depres-
sion are discussed.
Keywords Social networking sites
.
Authentic
self-presentation
.
Depression
.
Perceived social support
.
Rumination
.
Sequential mediation
Introduction
Depression has long been a crucial research and therapeutic
topic given its grave impacts and worldwide prevalence in
adolescents. For example, ample evidence suggests that de-
pression can undermine individuals’ life qualities, interper-
sonal relationships, and it might even cause people to commit
suicide (Maalouf et al. 2011). It is found that the occurrence of
depression in adolescents is fairly high (Cairns et al. 2014),
and depressive symptoms in adolescent could predict depres-
sion in adulthood (Pine e t al. 1999). Given the literature
reviewed above, it would be of great importance to explore
any way that might prevent and intervene with adolescent
depression.
Social networking sites (SNSs), which allow users to create
personal files, interact with their offline or online made friends
by updating status, posting comments, sending messages, and
viewing the information uploaded by others (Ellison 2007),
are redefining the way people interact with each other in the
recent years. SNSs use has become a part of daily life for
many people. For example, it is reported that Facebook has
1.23 billion active users on a daily basis. In China, there are
around 638 million SNSs users (SNSs in refer particular to
WeChat Moments and QQ-Zone regarding the finding in the
present study, which are the top 2 popular SNSs in China), and
adolescents make up a major part of it. Literature regarding the
influences of SNSs use on individuals’ well-being has gained
diverse array of results, which could be divided into two main
clusters. On one hand, a cluster of studies suggest that SNSs
* Li Lei
dr.leili@qq.com
1
Department of Psychology, The Center of Internet + Social
Psychology , Renmin University of China, No. 59 Zhongguancun
Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100872, China
2
Beijing Municipal Administration of Education and Correction, NO.
1, Tuangui Street, Daxing District, Beijing 102628, China
3
Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of
Groningen, PO Box 72, 9700 Groningen, AB, Netherlands
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9711-8
Published online: 7 October 2017
Pengcheng Wang
1
& Xingchao Wang
1
& Meng Zhao
2
&
Yingqiu Wu
3
& Yuhui Wang
1
& Li Lei
1
could undermine users’ well-being (Feinstein et al. 2013;Nesi
and Prinstein 2015; Steers et al. 2014; Verduyn et al. 2015).
On the other hand, the other cluster of research indicates that
SNSs use could enhance users’ well-being instead (Ellison
et al. 2007; Grieve and Watkinson 2016; Indian & Grieve
2014;KimandLee2011; Reinecke and Tr epte 20 14;
Valkenburg et al. 2006). Research suggests that it is the way
that users employ SNSs matters (Bevan et al. 2014). For ex-
ample, if people passively use the SNSs, it might damage their
well-being (Shaw et al. 2015). In contrast, if people use the
SNSs in a m ore active fashion, such as self-presentation
(Grieve and Watkinson 2016), it would positively affect their
well-being. Taken together, it is possible that SNSs are in a
cycle of Bmoral panic^ common to all new media (Bennett
et al. 2008), which often overemphasizes the negative influ-
ences that new media may have on individuals’ well-being.
Previous research may have neglected the positive impacts
that SNSs use can have on individuals’ well-being such as
depression. For example, Przybylski et al. (2017)recentlyfind
that only a very small percentage of the general population
meet the criteria for Internet gaming disorder, and the associ-
ations between Internet gaming dis orde r and individuals’
well-being are mixed.
According to the theory of true self, it is important for
individuals to express their authentic self to be acknowledged
and validated by others (Rogers 1951). There is methodolog-
ically diverse and consistent evidence that authentic self-
presentation in the offline context can enhance well-being.
For example, some cross-sectional studies indicate that being
authentic could predict increased self-esteem, positive emo-
tions, and life satisfaction (Goldman and Kernis 2002; Wood
et al. 2008). Diary study also supports the positive relation
between b eing auth entic and well-be ing (He ppner et al.
2008). Besides, studies indicate authenticity can predict de-
creased depression (Lopez and Rice 2006). Recent research
concerning the SNSs environment reveals similar results
showing that authentic self-presentation can predict positive
psychology outcomes (Grieve and Watkinson 2016; Niu et al.
2015a, b). Further, a recent study indicates that expressing
emotions on Face book could p redict reduc ed d epress ion
(Lee et al. 2016). Although it is less clear whether authentic
self-presentation on SNSs could reduce depression particular-
ly, the evidence reviewed above combining both the offline
and the online context is in line with the notion that authentic
self-presentation on SNSs could predict reduced depression.
These studies support the direct link between authentic self-
presentation on SNSs and adolescent depression. Yet, few
studies have examined the mediating mechanisms underlying
th
e relation between authentic self-presentation on SNSs and
depression. To fill these gaps, the current study established a
theoretical model in which perceived social support and rumi-
nation account for the association between self-presentation
on SNSs and adolescent depression.
The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support
The uses and gratifications theory (Katz et al. 1973;Ruggiero
2009) indicates that people use certain technologies such as
SNSs to fulfill their psychological needs including relatedness
(Raacke and Bonds-Raacke 2008). That is, individuals may
use SNSs to satisfy their need for relatedness, which in turn
enhance their well-being including reduced depression. To be
specific, people may present themselves authentically on
SNSs to connect with other people, which could bring benefits
such as gaining social support, and in turn could satisfy their
need for relatedness, and contribute to their enhanced well-
being eventually.
Few studies to date have examined the mediating effect of
perceived social support between self-presentation on SNSs
and depression. Some studies indirectly support the mediating
role of perceived social support. As mentioned above, authen-
tic self-presentation on SNSs could predict perceived social
support (Kim and Lee 2011). Besides, some studies indicated
that perceived social support on SNSs could predict reduced
depression. For instance, recent studies found that perceived
social support on Facebook negatively correlated with depres-
sion (Frison and Eggermont 2015;Parketal.2016). Another
study demonstrated that using Facebook in an actively way
could contribute to perceived social support, and subsequently
reduced users’ depression level (Frison and Eggermont 2016).
Further, it is found that authentic self-presenta tion on
Facebook could predict subjective well-being via perceived
social support (Kim and Lee 2011). Similarly, Niu et al.
(2015a) found that perceived social support mediated the re-
lation between authentic self-presentation on SNSs and life
satisfaction. Besides, Niu et al. (2015b)alsofoundthemedi-
ating effect of perceived social support between authentic self-
presentation on SNSs and enhanced self-esteem.
Taken together, authentic self-presentation on SNSs is pos-
itively related to perceived social support, which in turn is
negatively associated with depression. Based on the theoreti-
cal and empirical grounds reviewed above, we propose the
first hypothesis in the present study:
Hypothesis 1: Perceived social support would mediate
the relation between authentic self-presentation on SNSs
and depression.
The Mediating Role of Rumination
To our knowledge, few research has tested the relation be-
tween authentic self-presentation and rumination neither in
the offline nor the online environment, not to mention the
mediating effect of rumination between authentic self-presen-
tation on SNSs and depression. Yet, we postulate t hat
the mediating role of rumination is reasonable for the
following reasons.
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On one hand, although little is known about the relation
between authentic self-presentation on SNSs and rumination,
it is reasonable to deduce that authentic self-presentation on
SNSs could contribute to reduced rumination for several rea-
sons. Rumination is characterized by repetitive thoughts and
behaviors on symptoms, causes, and consequences of past
personal distress (Nolen-Hoeksema 1991; Nolen-Hoeksema
2000). Firstly, authentic self-presentation on SNSs includes
sharing one’s experiences, feelings and thoughts by construct-
ing profile, updating status, managing photo album, and so on
(Grasmuck et al. 2009; Strano 2008). Unlike positive self-
presentation, authentic self-presentation indicates presenting
oneself in a true-to-self manner, which means confronting
and organizing one’s upsetting experiences. Secondly, it is
found that expressive writing could reduce depression via
the mediating effect of rumination (Gortner et al. 2006).
Expressive writing requires the participants to write about
their emotionally upsetting experiences, the process of which
includes organizing and expres sing one’s negative experi-
ences, feelings or thoughts. Given that expressing one’sneg-
ative events, emotions or thoughts plays a big part of authentic
self-presentation on SNSs. It is reasonable to say that authen-
tic self-presentation on SNSs are similar with expressive writ-
ing both in form and essence, because they all mainly empha-
size on organizing and expressing one’s emotionally upsetting
experiences, feelings or thinking through one’sproblemsac-
tively. Therefore, it is logical to deduce that authentic self-
presentation on SNSs could lead to reduced rumination.
Thirdly, according to the response style theory (Nolen-
Hoeksema 1991), rumination takes place after one perceiving
a stressful event. Authentic self-presentation on SNSs often
leads to interpersonal interactions, it would let the user’son-
line friends know his/her real situation, which may eliminate
or alleviate one’s perceived stressful event by bringing care
and help from the user’s online friends, and in turn reduce his/
her rumination level eventually. In addition, unlike expressive
writing, authentic self-presentation on SNSs requires no ex-
pert guidance and could be practiced on a daily basis with no
time or space limits, it is more convenient for the users to
conduct it and gain accumulated psychological benefits such
as reduced depression.
On the other hand, the causality between rumination and
depression has been clearly discussed with abundant evi-
dence. According to the response style theory (Nolen-
Hoeksema 1991), rumination is a maladaptive response style
that can lead to depression by enhancing negative mood-
congruent thinking, damaging instrumental behavior and
problem solving, and deter ring i nterpersonal relationships
(Nolen-Hoeksema 1991; Nolen-Hoeksema et al. 2008). A
large body of research demonstrates that rumination can result
in depression. For instance, Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow
(1993) adopted an experimental design, the results of which
demonstrate that rumination can lead to increased depression.
Also, a longitudinal design indicates that rumination can pre-
dict the onset and maintenance of depression (Wilkinson et al.
2013). Besides, a meta-analysis study further confirms this
relation showing that higher levels of r umination predict
higher levels of depression (Olatunji et al. 2013). To sum up,
it is of both theoretical and solid empirical evidence that ru-
mination can cause depression.
Taken together, authentic self-presentation on SNSs could
predict reduced rumination, which in turn could predict de-
creased depression. Based on the literature reviewed above,
we propose the second hypothesis:
Hypothesis 2: Rumination would mediate the relation
between authentic self-presentation on SNSs and
depression.
A Multiple Mediation Model
This study examines the mediating roles of both perceived
social support and rumination in the association between au-
thentic self-presentation on SNSs and adolescent depression.
Compared with a simple mediation model, this integrated
multiple mediation can examine the multiple mechanisms
from the antecedent variable to the consequent variable simul-
taneously (Hayes 2013
), which can provide more insight s
ab
out how authentic self-presentation on SNSs is linked to
depression.
We know little about how the two mediators work together
because of the absence of previous empirical grounds, but
several possible mediation models may exist (Liu and Ling
2009). The first possibility is the parallel mediation model.
That is, perceived social support is only one of the possible
explanations for depression, and rumination is another expla-
nation for depression. Perceived social support and rumination
mediate the relation between authentic self-presentation on
SNSs and depression in a parallel fashion. The second possi-
bility is the sequential mediation. According to the response
style theory (Nolen-Hoeksema 1991), rumination takes place
after perceiving a stressful event, and social support from
others may help reduce the perceived stressful event in one’s
mind or even help solve one’s stressful events in the real life,
so it is reasonable to postulate that perceived social support
could contribute to reduced rumination. In this sense, the re-
lation between authentic self-presentation on SNSs and de-
pression would be mediated by perceived social support and
rumination sequentially. Nonetheless, we produce a multiple
model to examine these possibilities (Fig. 1).
The Present Study
Taken together, the current study aims to uncover three re-
search questions: (a) to examine the mediating role of
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perceived social support in the link between authentic self-
presentation on SNSs and adolescent depression; (b) to test
the mediating effect of rumination in the association between
authentic self-presentation and adolescent depression; (c) to
confirm how perceived social support and rumination work
together in the above pathway. It is important to note that we
use the term Bmediate^ only in the statistical sense, since the
cross-sectional design do not approve any causal conclusion.
Methods
Participants
A total of 365 senior high school students (48% of the partic-
ipants were male adolescents) completed our survey, which
was designed to collect information including demographic
variables, authentic online self-presentation, depression, per-
ceived social support, and rumination. The average age of the
participants was 15.96 years (SD
age
= 0.69, range = 14–
18 years). Regarding the demographics of the participants,
10% of their fathers and 13% of their mothers had a primary
school degree or less; 42% of their fathers had and 43% of
their mothers had a middle school degree; 23% of their fathers
and 21% of their mo thers had a high school or technical
school degree; 25% of their fathers and 23% of their mothers
had a college degree or above.
Measures
Authentic Online Self-Presentation
Authentic self-presentation was measured by the Chinese ver-
sion (Niu et al. 2015a) of the Honest Self-presentation Scale
designed by Kim and Lee (2011) to assess the extent to which
participants authentically share their feelings, thoughts, and
life events on SNSs (e.g., BI freely reveal negative emotions
Ifeel—for example, sadness, anxiety , or anger^; BIdon’tmind
writing about bad things that happen to me when I update my
status^), which consists of 4 items. Each item was rated on a
7-point scale (1 = strongly disagree,7=strongly agree), with
higher total scores representing higher tendency to present
oneself authentically on SNSs. Cronbach’s α for the scale
was .72 in this study.
Depression
Depression was measured by the Center for Epidemiological
Studies Depression Scale (CES-D, Radloff 1977), which con-
sists of 20 items selected from previous scales of depression. It
includes of six components: feelings of guilt and worthless-
ness; depressed mood; feelings of helplessness and hopeless-
ness; psychomotor retardation; loss of appetite; and sleep dis-
turbance. Respondents indicate how often within the last week
they experienced the symptoms on a 4-point scale (1 = Brarely
or none of the time^;2=Bsome or little of the time^;3=
Boccasionally or a moderate amount of time^;4=Bmost or
all of the time^). The scores for the 20 items are added, with
higher scores representing worse conditions on depression.
The CES-D has been used in Chinese sample with good reli-
ability and validity (Dwyer et al. 2014). In the present study,
Cronbach’s α for the CES-D was .91.
Perceived Social Support
Perceived social support was measured by the Multidimensional
Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) (Zimet et al. 1988),
which consists of 12 items. It measures perceived support from
three sources including family (e.g., BI get emotional help and
support I need from my family^), friends (e.g., BI can count on
my friends when things go wrong^), and significant others (e.g.,
BThere is a special person who is around me when am in need
^).
Each
item was rated on a 7-point scale (1 = strongly disagree,
7=str ongly agr ee), with higher scores indicating greater per-
ceived social support. In the present study, Cronbach’s α for
the MSPSS was .91.
Rumination
Rumination was measured by the Chinese version (Yang
et al. 2009) of Ruminative Response Scale (RRS, Nolen-
Hoeksema and Morrow 1991), which consists of 22
-.21(.05) ***
.63(.13) *** .57(0.3) ***
-.19(.12) -.17(.03) ***
.05(.07)
Rumination
Perceived
Social Support
Depression
Authentic SNSs
Self-presentation
Fig. 1 The proposed multiple
mediation model. The association
between authentic self-
presentation on SNSs and
depression is mediated by
perceived social support and
rumination. Path values are the
path coefficients (standard errors).
*** p <.001
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