In this study, 7838 valid data were collected from four classes of students in a university, using the Mental Health Literacy Rating Scale, SCL-90 Symptom Self-Rating Scale, and self-administered demographic-sociological questionnaire, to construct a quantitative analysis framework of social media dependency behaviors, dormitory living space characteristics, and mental health. The results showed that the total score of college students’ mental health literacy was 86.15±12.31, of which the total score of the behavioral dimension was significantly lower than the other dimensions, 17.41±5.75, indicating that there was a significant disconnect between the acquisition of mental health knowledge and practical ability. Demographic heterogeneity analysis showed that mental health literacy was significantly higher among students who were female, in higher grades, in good family economic status, with harmonious parental marital relationship and strong parent-child relationship (all P<0.05). Short-video social media dependence behavior was a significant positive predictor of depression (β=0.645, P=0.004) and anxiety (β=0.645, P<0.001), with social comparison playing a partially mediating effect (depression: T=2.384, P=0.029; anxiety: T=2.384, P=0.029). Among the dormitory living space characteristics, functionality score β=-0.217, spatial independence β=-3.874, and satisfaction β=-1.952 were significantly negatively correlated with the total SCL-90 score. This study reveals that social media dependence exacerbates psychological risk through social comparison, and that optimizing dormitory spatial design can be an important pathway for protective intervention.
