Relatedness frustration and compensatory behaviors in social networking sites among Chinese college students: Role of self-control failure

Based on the framework of the self-determination theory, the present study of Chinese college students was designed to investigate the relationships between relatedness frustration and compensatory behaviors on social networking sites (SNSs), as well as the mediating role of SNS self-control failure. Chinese college students (N = 461, 159 males; M-age = 18.62 +/- .77) were recruited to complete online questionnaires measuring relatedness frustration, SNS self-control failure, and three types of SNS behaviors (immediate response to SNS signals, self-disclosure on SNSs, and SNS addiction symptoms). Path analyses indicated that relatedness frustration was directly associated with participants' immediate response to SNS signals and SNS addiction symptoms. SNS self-control failure functioned as a mediator in the links between relatedness frustration and SNS addiction symptoms. This study provided empirical evidence of the relationship between relatedness frustration and SNS compensatory behaviors. Furthermore, the finding on the intervening role of SNS self-control failure offers some insights for designing intervention programs aimed to reduce maladaptive and addictive SNS activities.