Abstract:Frequent short video use has been associated with higher depression levels in college students, but its mechanisms are still unclear. This study surveyed 584 university students to examine the mechanisms linking short video addiction to depression. The results showed that (1) short video addiction significantly and positively predicted depression levels; (2) physical-mental cultivation and interoception partially mediated the relationship between short video addiction and depression; and (3) there was no significant difference between the two mediating effects. These findings indicate that short video addiction not only directly increases depression levels but also indirectly influences depression through the partial mediating effects of physical-mental cultivation (top-down pathway) and interoception (bottom-up pathway), providing insights for understanding and intervening in the relationship between short video addiction and depression.