Uncovering the effects of non-hedonic social media use on knowledge workers’ depression through the conservation of resources theory

Authors

Xiling Cui, Department of Hospitality and Business Management, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong KongFollow

Staff Page Link

Dr CUI Xiling, Celine

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2025

Keywords

Social media, Non-hedonic use, Depression, Conservation of resources (COR) theory, Knowledge-working professionals (KWPs)

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2025.104121

Abstract

Leveraging the conservation of resources theory, this study investigates the influence of non-hedonic social media (SM) uses, namely broad socialization, deep communication, information retrieval, and information sharing, on forming knowledge-working professionals’ depression through SM overload and strain. The analysis of a two-wave data collection with 440 participants suggests that broad socialization and information sharing have both positive and negative effects indirectly on depression. In contrast, deep communication and information retrieval are beneficial in reducing depression. Our study contributes to the existing literature by exploring the distinct effects of the four non-hedonic social media use on depression.

Source Publication

Information & Management

Volume Number

62

ISSN

0378-7206

Recommended Citation

Cui, X. (2025). Uncovering the effects of non-hedonic social media use on knowledge workers’ depression through the conservation of resources theory. Information & Management, 62. http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2025.104121