Patterns of Short Video Use and Mental Health Among Adolescents: A Latent Profile Analysis

Short video platforms like TikTok are increasingly popular among adolescents. The study investigated the correlation between adolescent short video use (SVU) patterns and psychological well-being. Using a sample of 2,344 Chinese junior and senior high school students, this study employed latent profile analysis (LPA) to categorize short video users into distinctive subtypes based on patterns of active and passive use and emotional investment in SVU. Four SVU profiles were identified: low-overall users (65.6%), active-dominant users (14.4%), high-overall users (7.7%), and passive-dominant users (12.3%). Significant grade and gender differences were found. All psychological variables measured (i.e., sleep quality, attention problems, social anxiety, depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness) differed across the four profiles. The low-overall pattern was the most prevalent and was associated with the lowest levels of mental health problems, whereas the high-overall pattern was associated with the greatest psychological risks. Active-dominant and passive-dominant users showed moderate mental health levels and did not differ significantly on most psychological variables, except for depressive symptoms. These findings advance understanding of the link between SVU patterns and adolescent mental health and help identify vulnerable groups for prevention and intervention.