Media dependency, platform-swinging, and psychological depression among young college students in the polymedia environment

As a comprehensive and affordable environment, polymedia lays the groundwork for exploring platform-swinging and offers a theoretical framework for investigating its dynamics. Platform-swinging and its unique niche characteristics provide a novel lens to examine the interplay between media dependency and psychological well-being. Using a survey questionnaire, this study collected data from 1210 university students in the Yangtze River Delta, China’s most economically developed region, to examine the relationship between media dependency, platform-swinging, and psychological depression. Our findings suggest that the affordances of platform-swinging influence media dependency, whereas the nature of media dependency shapes psychological depression. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how young adults navigate various media platforms and sheds light on the complex interrelations between media use and mental health. Focusing on platform-swinging in the environment of polymedia explores the relationship between media dependency, platform-swinging, and psychological depression. Moreover, it also compensates for the one-sided understanding caused by simply examining media dependency and psychological depression. This study has practical value and theoretical significance for the psychological health of college students and the research and development of the media dependency theory.