OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current status of anxiety and depression among adolescents and to analyze the correlation between adolescents' online social connections and their depression and anxiety. METHODS: The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design, conducted in a middle school located in a city in Sichuan Province. Classes were selected through simple random sampling, with all students in the selected classes serving as study participants. Anxiety, depression, and online social connections were assessed using the Chinese version of the DSM-5 Anxiety Inventory for Children and Adolescents, the DSM-5 Depression Inventory for Children and Adolescents, and the Revised Social Connectedness Scale, respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of anxiety and depression among the participants were found to be 49.1% and 47.1%, respectively. A significant positive correlation was identified between online social connections and both anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate a concerning prevalence of anxiety and depression among adolescents. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to recognize the multifaceted factors contributing to these mental health challenges and to remain vigilant regarding adolescent mental health. Leveraging the impact of online social connections, early psychological intervention strategies should be implemented to promote healthy online relationships and mitigate the risks of anxiety and depression among adolescents.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.

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Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of West China Hospital, Sichuan University (NO.2019-907). Written informed consent has been obtained from the guardians.

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