Journal of Higher Education Research

The pervasive integration of smart media has fundamentally reshaped how Generation Z college students interact. This shift leads to a phenomenon called "online coexistence and offline loneliness." Such a dynamic fosters a unique type of situational social anxiety, which emerges mainly in offline, complex social settings. This study aims to examine the psychological pathway between smart media use and this anxiety. It also focuses on developing and testing a group intervention. Quantitative results confirmed that heavy smart media use, including frequent social comparison and performance pressure, predicts higher anxiety. This occurs through negative self-evaluation and perceived interpersonal threat. The intervention group had a greater reduction in anxiety and better social self-confidence after the program and at a 3-month follow-up, compared to a wait list control group. Qualitative findings showed improved perceived ability to handle real-world interaction and an increased appreciation for authentic connections. The study concludes that the "Positive Connections" program can effectively target cognitive distortions and help rebuild offline social skills, offering a strong model for university mental health initiatives.