The Impact of Social Media Use on the Psychological well-being of Older Adults in Chinese Nursing Homes: A Serial Mediation Model of Loneliness and Perceived Social Support

Abstract

Background: As China experiences rapid population aging, the well-being of older adults in institutional care has become a critical concern. Nursing home residents are often frailer and more socially isolated than their community-dwelling counterparts, making them a vulnerable population. While social media use has been linked to psychological well-being, its role and underlying mechanisms within this specific context remain underexplored.
Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between social media use and the psychological well-being of older adults residing in Chinese nursing homes. It further examines the mediating roles of loneliness and perceived social support in this relationship.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in February 2025 with 320 older adults (aged 60 and above) from several nursing homes in Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province. Participants completed validated measures assessing social media use, loneliness, perceived social support, and psychological well-being. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and mediation analysis (PROCESS) were used to test the proposed hypotheses.
Results: Social media use was positively and directly associated with better psychological well-being. The structural model demonstrated a good fit to the data. Mediation analysis revealed that loneliness and perceived social support partially and serially mediated this relationship. Social media use was associated with reduced loneliness and enhanced perceived social support, both of which were directly linked to improved psychological well-being. The total indirect effect of the serial mediation was significant.