Understanding the effects of WeChat on perceived social capital and psychological well-being among Chinese international college students in Germany

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua Pang
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Correlation Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International College

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how the intensity use of WeChat is associated with perceived social capital and psychological well-being factors among Chinese international students in Germany. Design/methodology/approach Based on an online survey data collected from 212 Chinese international college students in Germany, correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were sequentially implemented to deal with the research questions. Findings The correlation analysis results indicate that the intensity of WeChat use is positively correlated with bridging, bonding, and maintained social capital. Additionally, a path model demonstrates that bonding social capital is positively related to life satisfaction and negatively related to the sense of loneliness. Furthermore, both bonding and maintained social capital mediate the relationship between WeChat use and these two well-being outcomes. Research limitations/implications Theoretically, the research is an initial study contributing to the existing social media literature on evaluating the effects of WeChat use on social capital and well-being. Practically, these obtained results can be beneficial to the understanding the dynamics of how social media may potentially impact students’ social connectedness and life quality. Originality/value Although WeChat has become the most prevalent social networking site in Mainland China, the social and psychological implications of the emerging technology are not completely understood. The paper offers evidence that WeChat has functioned as an efficient platform for sojourners to develop diverse types of social capital and promote well-being in an intercultural setting.

Work from home: Indonesian employees' mental well-being and productivity during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Auditya Purwandini Sutarto ◽  
Shanti Wardaningsih ◽  
Wika Harisa Putri
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mental Well Being

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore to what extent employees' mental well-being affects their productivity while working from home (WFH) during the COVID-19 crisis and whether mental well-being and productivity differ across some socio-demographic factors.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study with online questionnaires was designed with 472 valid responses in Indonesia. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ) were administered. Non-parametric tests and structural equation modeling were employed to analyze the data.FindingsThe prevalence of depression was 18.4%, anxiety 46.4% and stress 13.1%, with relatively good productivity. Gender, age, education level, job experiences, marital status, number of children and nature of the organization were associated with the employees' psychological health but not with their productivity, while the workspace availability influenced both outcomes. The study path model showed the negative correlation between WFH employees' psychological well-being and productivity.Research limitations/implicationsThis study may contribute to the implication of current mandatory WFH on mental well-being and productivity. Further studies need to address the representativeness and generalizability issues as well as incorporating potential stressors.Practical implicationsOrganizations may adopt WFH as a future working arrangement and identify the individual and occupational characteristics that provide the most impacts on productivity. It is also necessary for them to develop proper strategies to mitigate the psychological risks and overcome the WFH challenges.Originality/valueThere is still a lack of studies investigating the relationship between simultaneous effects of WFH on psychological well-being and productivity, and how they affect some socio-demographic variables in the context of COVID-19.

How can WeChat contribute to psychosocial benefits? Unpacking mechanisms underlying network size, social capital and life satisfaction among sojourners

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 1362-1378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua Pang
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Personal Network ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to systematically unpack whether and how WeChat network size is correlated with perceived social capital and life satisfaction among Chinese overseas students in Germany. Design/methodology/approach Based on a web-based survey data collected from 218 sojourners, zero-order correlation analyses and structural equation modeling were separately implemented to tackle the complicated research questions. Findings Findings demonstrate that an individual’s WeChat network size significantly and directly influences bridging, bonding and maintained social capital. Importantly, a path model demonstrates that these distinct dimensions of social capital are all significant predictors of life satisfaction. Furthermore, the empirical evidence reveals that bridging, bonding and maintained social capital can mediate the association between network size and well-being outcome. Research limitations/implications Theoretically, the paper is an initial attempt contributing to the previous studies on estimating the influence of WeChat friendships on social capital and life satisfaction. Practically, these findings will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of effect of personal network characteristics derived from the dominant media interaction on social connectedness and life quality. Originality/value Despite WeChat is immensely prevalent in Mainland China, only few studies have concentrated on the role of WeChat network size in fostering individuals’ social and psychological development. The work provides unique evidence that number of friends on the emerging technology could indirectly benefit sojourners’ satisfaction with life through processes involving diverse categories of social capital in a trans-cultural environment.

scholarly journals Effects of Social Media Use on Psychological Well-Being: A Mediated Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragana Ostic ◽  
Sikandar Ali Qalati ◽  
Belem Barbosa ◽  
Syed Mir Muhammad Shah ◽  
Esthela Galvan Vela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Smartphone Addiction ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Bridging Social Capital

The growth in social media use has given rise to concerns about the impacts it may have on users' psychological well-being. This paper's main objective is to shed light on the effect of social media use on psychological well-being. Building on contributions from various fields in the literature, it provides a more comprehensive study of the phenomenon by considering a set of mediators, including social capital types (i.e., bonding social capital and bridging social capital), social isolation, and smartphone addiction. The paper includes a quantitative study of 940 social media users from Mexico, using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings point to an overall positive indirect impact of social media usage on psychological well-being, mainly due to the positive effect of bonding and bridging social capital. The empirical model's explanatory power is 45.1%. This paper provides empirical evidence and robust statistical analysis that demonstrates both positive and negative effects coexist, helping to reconcile the inconsistencies found so far in the literature.

The effect of social media use on empathy and welling: a personality perspective in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mousa Albashrawi ◽  
Yousef Asiri ◽  
Muhammad Binsawad ◽  
Latifah Alqahtani
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of social media use on both empathy and well-being through using a five-factor model (FFM) of personality in the context of Saudi Arabia. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from the 13 regions in Saudi Arabia. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to measure the reliability and validity of the study’s constructs and a structural equation modeling technique was applied to test the study hypotheses. Findings With a sample of 450 users, the regression results indicate a less significant relationship between personality and social media use, as well as between personality and affective empathy, while a more significant relationship between personality and cognitive empathy. Also, individuals’ well-being are influenced directly by the heavy use of social media. Research limitations/implications The cross-sectional design used in this research may not be able to provide the true essence of the hypothesized relationships compared to the cause-effect design. This study furthers the understanding of the role of personality on empathy and well-being in social media among Saudis from one side and provides insights to professionals for better improvement of social media and so better individuals’ well-being from the other side. Originality/value This paper fills an untapped gap in a developing country context by exploring the relationship between the usage of social media and the two dimensions of empathy, which, in turn, influence well-being under the theoretical lens of an FFM personality.

scholarly journals RE-examining the Effect of Online Social Support on Subjective Well-Being: The Moderating Role of Experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Meng-Hsiang Hsu ◽  
Chun-Ming Chang ◽  
Shing-Ling Wu
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Levels Of Use ◽  
Moderating Role

Building upon the perspectives of social capital theory, social support, and experience, this study developed a theoretical model to investigate the determinants of subjective well-being on social media. This study also examined the moderating role of experience on the relationship between subjective well-being and social support. Data collected from 267 social media users in Taiwan were used to test the proposed model. Structural equation modeling analysis was used to test the measurement model and the structural model. The findings reveal that receiving online support and providing online support are the key predictors of subjective well-being. Furthermore, social capital positively influences the reception and provision of online support. Finally, providing online support has a significant effect on the subjective well-being of users with low levels of use experience, while receiving online support exerts a stronger influence on the subjective well-being of users with high levels of use experience.

Consumer engagement with eWOM on social media: the role of social capital

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 482-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaniv Gvili ◽  
Shalom Levy
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Consumer Engagement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Order Construct ◽  
Channel Type

Purpose The nature of digital media channels are important factors in explaining consumers’ behavior over the Web, and specifically on social network sites (SNS). The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework explaining consumer engagement with electronic word of mouth (eWOM) communication via SNS, based on key attributes of this media channel. Design/methodology/approach Based on the expectancy value theory (EVT), a conceptual framework is proposed to model the effect of eWOM channel attributes on eWOM engagement process. Consumer eWOM engagement is conceptualized as a second-order construct. A structural equation modeling procedure was employed to empirically test the model using data collected from two social media communication channels. Findings First, results suggest that engagement with eWOM can be conceptualized as a second-order construct based on user tendency to receive or share eWOM with other network members. Second, the path analysis model supports the employment of EVT and shows that two key attributes of eWOM channels, social capital and credibility, significantly affect consumer attitude toward eWOM via SNS. Attitude toward eWOM, in turn, affects eWOM engagement. Third, SNS channel type moderates the effect on attitude. Practical implications Marketing communication practitioners should note that the strength of social ties plays a key role in spreading eWOM on SNS effectively. This insight should be employed a part of social media marketing strategy. Originality/value This is first research that models the effect of social media attributes on eWOM engagement and demonstrates the moderating role of channel type. The model is highly valuable in light of the importance of the concept of engagement in internet research.

The costs and benefits of going beyond the call of duty

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-270
Author(s):  
Navneet Kaur ◽  
Lakhwinder Singh Kang
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Citizenship Behavior ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Citizenship Behavior ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Role Overload ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Past research has generally associated organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) with positive individual and organizational outcomes, paying little attention to its possible costs for individuals. Drawing from the conservation of resource theory (COR), the purpose of this paper is to address this gap by developing an integrative framework that simultaneously investigates the potential costs and benefits of OCB for individuals. In addition, the paper also investigates the down-streaming effects of OCB on workplace well-being (job satisfaction and affective commitment) favorably via psychological well-being and unfavorably via role overload. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 566 employees working in private sector banks in India was collected by using multi-stage random sampling approach. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized relationships. Parallel mediation regression analysis was used for ascertaining the specific indirect effects of the two parallel mediators. Findings Results indicate that OCBs targeted toward co-workers (OCBI), organization (OCBO) and customers (OCBC) were positively associated with psychological well-being. Simultaneously, OCBO was found to be positively associated with higher role overload. Further, psychological well-being and role overload mediated the effect of various dimensions of OCB on employees’ workplace well-being. Originality/value The study contributes to the existing literature by investigating both the beneficial and detrimental effects of various dimensions of OCB into one theoretical framework. By doing so, the study attempts to bridge the gap in the literature by linking these two divergent streams of research, i.e. whether OCB is beneficial or costly for individuals.

Transformational leadership and autonomy support management behaviors

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 320-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Hélène Gilbert ◽  
Véronique Dagenais-Desmarais ◽  
France St-Hilaire
Keyword(s):  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Autonomy Support ◽  
Psychological Control ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Behaviors ◽  
Control Management

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between transformational leadership (TL), autonomy support management behaviors and employees’ psychological health. Design/methodology/approach A total of 512 Canadian workers assessed their immediate supervisor’s level of TL and autonomy support management behaviors. Participants also assessed their own psychological health through measures of psychological well-being and burnout at work. Findings Results from structural equation modeling indicate that TL is related to employee psychological well-being and burnout. This effect is fully mediated by more specific autonomy support and psychological control management behaviors. These results suggest that autonomy support and psychological control management behaviors may have a more proximal effect on employees’ psychological health than TL does. Also, managers’ leadership and behaviors appear to better predict employees’ psychological well-being at work than employee burnout. Practical implications Managers with a TL style employ more autonomy support and fewer psychological control behaviors, which makes employees happier and less burned out. Based on these results, leadership training programs would gain to focus on the development of more specific management behaviors among leaders, such as autonomy support, to enhance employees’ psychological health, especially their well-being. Originality/value This research expands understanding of the relationship between TL and the psychological health of employees by shedding light on the mediating role of autonomy support management behaviors in this relationship.

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