Mobile Phone Self-expansion and Psychological Distress:Based on the Self-concept Fragmentation Hypothesis and the Social Construction Theory of Self
Objective:To explore the relationship among mobile phone self-expansion,self-concept clarity,heterogene-ity of online interpersonal relationships and psychological distress of college students.Methods:A sample of 567 college students was recruited in the study to complete the questionnaires about mobile phone self-expansion,self-concept clarity,heterogeneity of online interpersonal relationships and psychological distress.Results:①Mobile phone self-expansion was negatively correlated with self-concept clarity and positively correlated with psychological distress.Self-concept clarity was negatively associated with psychological distress.②Mobile phone self-expansion not only had a direct effect on psycho-logical distress,but also could affect psychological distress through the mediating role of self-concept clarity.③ Both the relationships between mobile phone self-expansion and self-concept clarity,and the relationship between mobile phone self-expansion and psychological distress,were moderated by heterogeneity of online interpersonal relationships.Conclu-sion:The decrease in clarity of self-concept is a key psychological mechanism that mobile phone self-expansion leads to psychological distress.The heterogeneity of online interpersonal relationships is a catalyst for mobile phone self-expansion leading to a decrease in self-concept clarity and an increase in psychological distress.
Mobile phone self-expansionSelf-concept clarityHeterogeneity of online interpersonal relationshipsPsychological distress