The relationship between social media use and fertility anxiety: a parallel mediation model

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between social media use and fertility anxiety among women of childbearing age as well as the mediating effects of social comparison tendency and gender role attitudes, with the aim of enriching the understanding of the underlying psychological mechanisms of fertility anxiety and providing a theoretical basis for developing evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies. Methods: A survey of 597 women in China was conducted using the Fertility Anxiety Scale for Women of Childbearing Age, the Social Network Sites Intensity Scale, the Social Comparison Orientation Scale, and the Gender Role Attitude Scale. Afterwards, a multiple mediation model was constructed to explore the relationships between the variables. Results: (1) Social media use significantly and positively predicted fertility anxiety, and (2) social comparison tendency and gender role attitude played parallel mediating roles in the relationship between social media use and fertility anxiety. Conclusions: This study revealed associations among social comparison tendency, gender role attitude, social media use, and fertility anxiety. Understanding these factors can offer insights that may be relevant to addressing fertility anxiety among women of childbearing age.