When Confucian Culture Meets Digital Stress: Moderators of Social Media Harm in Chinese Adolescents

This study examines the psychological impact of negative social media exposure on Chinese adolescents, with particular attention to the moderating roles of psychological resilience, family connectedness, and digital literacy. Grounded in Ecological Systems Theory, a cross-sectional survey was administered to 500 high school students using validated psychometric instruments to assess levels of exposure, mental health outcomes, and protective factors. The findings indicate that frequent exposure to harmful online content significantly predicted higher levels of depression and suicidal ideation, underscoring the risks posed by digital environments. Psychological resilience emerged as a significant moderator, weakening the relationship between negative exposure and psychological distress, thereby suggesting its potential as a protective resource. In contrast, family connectedness and digital literacy did not significantly buffer these effects, pointing to cultural and contextual variations in protective mechanisms. These results emphasize the need for resilience-based interventions and further culturally sensitive research on adolescent digital well-being in non-Western societies.