Chen Li,1 Yangyang Wang2 

1School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Communication, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Yangyang Wang, School of Communication, Soochow University, Suzhou Industrial Park, No. 1 Wenjing Road, Suzhou, 215123, People’s Republic of China, Email yywang2023@suda.edu.cn

Objective: This study constructed a theoretical model based on the social compensation theory and used it to investigate the effects of short-form video applications usage on depressive symptoms among functionally dependent adults.
Methods: An empirical analysis was conducted based on a national sample of 8752 adults aged 45+ from China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) wave 2020. This study examined the effects of short-form video applications usage on depressive symptoms in functionally dependent adults by constructing linear regression models. Further, the mediating effect of interpersonal relationship, and the moderating effect of video games were then sequentially analyzed with the help of macro PROCESS4.0 tool.
Results: Results showed that: (1) short-form video applications usage significantly reduced the level of depressive symptoms among functionally dependent adults; (2) interpersonal relationship exerted a mediating effect of 10.36% in the process of short-form video applications usage reducing the level of depressive symptoms among functionally dependent adults; (3) video games attenuated the healing effect of short-form video applications usage on the level of depressive symptoms in functionally dependent adults, but not significantly in the functionally dependent adults aged 60+.
Conclusion: New electronic media, represented by short-form video applications, have the potential to intervene in the mental health of functionally dependent adults. Social policymakers should consider adopting relevant e-healing measures to enhance the well-being of vulnerable groups.

Keywords: short-form video applications usage, functionally dependent adults, depressive symptoms, interpersonal relationship, video games