Unraveling the influence of passive and active WeChat interactions on upward social comparison and negative psychological consequences among university students

• Passive WeChat interaction is associated with upward social comparison. • Active WeChat interaction negatively predicts upward social comparison. • Correlation between active WeChat interaction and depressive mood is not significant. • Upward social comparison plays the mediating role in the relationship between passive WeChat use and depression. Given the explosive prevalence of WeChat engagement and the inconsistent conclusions regarding the potential negative influence of social media usage on psychological consequences, the current research aims to offer a deeper comprehending of the interrelationships between distinct patterns of WeChat interactions, upward social comparison, depressed mood, and the fear of missing out among university students. The study utilizes data gathered from a web-based survey of 318 university students aged 18 to 29. Structural equation modeling demonstrates that passive WeChat interaction is associated with a greater level of upward social comparison, which is in turn related positively to self-perceived depressive mood and fearing of missing out. Additionally, active WeChat interaction negatively predicts university students' upward social comparison. Nevertheless, the correlation between active WeChat interaction and depressive mood is not statistically significant. Overall, these obtained results could be beneficial to understanding of the psychologically powerful nature of WeChat and how novel technology-medated communication use could actually impact university students' mental health in contemporary digitally driven society.