Fig. 1

The direct and moderating effects of online social support on mental health (Path 2–3)The present study assessed four main research objectives corresponding to the research questions. Objective 1 was to assess potential gender differences in (a) mental health; (b) overall reports of perceived life stress and specific types of stress (i.e., punishment, learning pressure, loss, interpersonal relationships, adaptation); and (d) online social support among university students. Objective 2 was to determine whether specific types of perceived life stress impacted mental health among university students (Fig. 1, Path 1). Objective 3 was to determine whether online social support had direct effects on mental health among university students (Fig. 1, Path 2). Objective 4 was to determine whether online social support could significantly moderate the relationship between perceived life stress and mental health among university students (Fig. 1, Path 3) among university students under perceived life stress (Path 1)