The association between passive social media use and personal growth initiative: a moderated mediation model

Most of the previous studies have investigated the effect of personal growth initiative on college students' positive development by using it as a predictor. However, factors that may impact personal growth initiative have not been widely investigated; the underlying mechanism is still unclear.

By establishing a moderated mediation model, the current study examined the relationship between passive social media use and personal growth initiative as well as the mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of physical activity. A paper-pencil-based survey was performed; the final sample included 476 participants (263 females).

The results demonstrated that passive social media use was negatively correlated with personal growth initiative, and this link is mediated by self-control. Physical activity moderated the impacts of passive social media use on both personal growth initiative and self-control, indicating that the two associations were stronger for individuals with high physical activity levels than for those with low physical activity levels.

These results were consistent with the strength model of self-control and, meanwhile, indicated that participating in physical exercise was helpful for buffering the negative effects of passive social media usage on self-control and personal growth initiative. The current study may be conducive to understanding the associations among the study variables, taking effective and suitable measures to improve personal growth initiative, and finally advancing individuals' positive development.