Social Media Use Intensity and Social Media Use Problems in Relation to Interpersonal Adaptation During the Transition to College: An Intensive Longitudinal Study.

Abstract

During the college transition, many students undergo rapid changes in the frequency and patterns of social media use, while also facing sudden challenges in adapting to the new interpersonal environment. However, it remains unclear how social media use intensity and social media use problems are temporally related to interpersonal adaptation during this important stage of development. This study conducted a 30-day intensive longitudinal design to explore the fine-grained temporal relationships between social media use intensity, social media use problems, and interpersonal adaptation, as well as the intensive mediating role of upward social comparison during the first month of the college transition. The sample comprised 317 first-year college students in China (71.8% female; M_age = 18.16 years, SD = 0.65). Participants completed daily reports over a 30-day intensive tracking period, with data collected each evening between 8:30 and 9:00 PM. Multilevel residual dynamic structural equation modeling revealed that both social media use intensity and social media use problems on the previous day significantly, negatively predicted interpersonal adaptation on the following day during the college transition. Additionally, upward social comparison played an intensive mediating role in the temporal relationship between social media use problems and interpersonal adaptation. These findings offer important insights into how social media use at a fine-grained temporal level influences interpersonal adaptation during the college transition, informing strategies to support first-year students' adjustment.