Digital Socialligators? Social Media-Induced Perceived Support During the Transition to the COVID-19 Lockdown

2021 ◽  
pp. 089443932110658
Author(s):  
Dan-Andrei Sitar-Taut ◽  
Daniel Mican ◽  
Lena Frömbling ◽  
Marko Sarstedt
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Bridging Social Capital ◽  
University Life ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Psychological Sense

The sudden COVID-19-induced transition from a physical university life to a virtual one was a painful one for many students. Social distancing measures mean more than a simple change from face-to-face to online education. This study investigates how different social aspects, such as the students’ psychological sense of community, social capital, and use of social media, facilitated the perceived social support during the transition to the COVID-19 lockdown. Our results not only underline social media’s role, but also indicate that the perceived social support, as well as the bonding and bridging social capital, were particularly relevant during the transition process. Our findings are aimed at organizational management by recommending actionable ways in which they could improve social support by organizing computer-supported social networks, social support predictors, and specialized interventions for students with less perceived social support. As such, the study provides unique insights into the COVID-19-induced lockdown situation among students, while offering a transition model that also generalizes to other settings.

Positive Aspects of Social Media

2018 ◽  
pp. 412-431
Author(s):  
Sally Quinn
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Socially Anxious ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Use Of Social Media

Despite the negative press social media platforms like Facebook receive in mainstream media, there is a large amount of research showing positive associations with their use. Although it is accepted that there are potential negative effects associated with using these platforms, this chapter focuses on the positive aspects and discusses the evidence, showing that the use of social media platforms can be positively associated with feelings of connectedness with others, to providing and receiving social support from others (e.g., social capital), and to psychological well-being. The chapter also examines the evidence suggesting that certain groups of people (e.g., socially anxious) may be more likely to reap these benefits. Finally, the chapter examines the evidence showing how the use of social media by young people specifically has been seen to have some relationship with positive outcomes.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Social Capital and Psychological Well-Being: the Mediating Role of Internet Marketing

2020 ◽  
pp. 40-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Khalil Ahmed ◽  
Muhammad Majid Khan ◽  
Rao Aamir Khan ◽  
Bahaudin G. Mujtaba
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Virtual University ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between social capital and psychological well-being through perceived social support testing social media usage as a moderator. This study is based on social capital theory, which is centred on human interaction through social support to amplify the psychological well-being. Data was collected from 368 masters' students belonging to five different campuses. Using partial least squares structural equation modelling the results reveal that perceived social support significantly mediates the link between social capital and psychological well-being, and social media usage heightens the relationship between social capital and saws social support when it is used for a social cause. Findings of the study have some practical implications on how to diagnose and prevent factors that influence the feelings of isolation and loneliness in online interactions. The results are useful for digital media users and managers in higher education distance learning institutions since social interaction might indirectly benefit virtual university students' psychological well-being by increasing the perceived social support followed by social capital. Researchers agree that using social media may help to improve students' levels of life quality if educational administrators can develop novel applications that pay close attention to individuals' social and moral support. As such, social media designers could design more entertaining features to efficiently stimulate students and other users to adapt and meet their needs for social interactions. This research has established that a simple social conversation forum app should be launched by any virtual university to bring their students together where they could feel a sense of belonging and connectedness with a slice of social support. Moreover, teachers should also have a separate informal blog where they could communicate with their students each week to overcome the lack of face-to-face interaction. The administration of virtual universities has to increase the number of face-to-face gathering and seminars, i.e. it should be once in a semester rather than once in the entire study program. It will motivate the students by making references and relations with their peers. By spreading this knowledge, the students may get out of the state of isolation that will improve their performance. By demonstrating this in the higher education sector, virtual universities could reduce the service staff more intelligently through AI, and delay in response time (e.g., communication between student-to-student and student-to-teacher) could also be removed efficiently. Applying this model in virtual university settings could bring local and international students to obtain more significant social support, consequently leading to amplified psychological well-being. Keywords psychological well-being, social capital, internet marketing, social media usage, perceived social support online communities, e-learning, virtual engagement, social ties, online social interaction, loneliness, and isolation.

scholarly journals How Social Are Social Media? A Review of Online Social Behaviour and Connectedness

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracii Ryan ◽  
Kelly A. Allen ◽  
DeLeon L. Gray ◽  
Dennis M. McInerney
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Key Aspects

The use of social media is rapidly increasing, and one of the major discussions of the 21st century revolves around how the use of these applications will impact on the social relationships of users. To contribute to this discussion, we present a brief narrative review highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of social media use on three key aspects of social connectedness: social capital, sense of community, and loneliness. The results indicate that using social media can increase social capital, lead to the formation of friendships and communities, and reduce loneliness. However, some social media site users may experience weakening friendships, online ostracism, and heightened loneliness. Therefore, we argue that the use of social media has contradictory effects on social connectedness. Moreover, the direction of these outcomes is contingent upon who is using the site and how they are using it. Based on these arguments, possible directions for future research are discussed. It is recommended that discourse be continued relating to the association between online social behaviour and connectedness, as this will enable researchers to establish whether the positive outcomes of social media use outweigh the negative.

The Music That is Here to Stay

2014 ◽  
pp. 145-159
Author(s):  
Atzimba Baltazar Macías
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Theoretical Discussion ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
The Public ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Use Of Internet ◽  
Mexican Politics

The chapter aims at understanding a recent phenomenon in Mexican politics: the use of Internet and social media as a new and powerful resource for mobilization and social participation in the policy process. Based on a review of two recent movements in Mexico (#YoSoy132 and The Wirikuta Defense Front), the chapter argues that although the Internet is still restricted to the middle and upper classes, the use of social media and its impact transcends class boundaries, draws public attention, creates a valuable social capital for mobilization, and influences the decision-making process. The chapter does not intend to provide evidence to the theoretical discussion on why and how social media enhances political participation and mobilization; rather, it reflects the features shared by these two movements in order to draw some lines for further research. It finds that, if used appropriately, social media is actually an effective tool to facilitate mobilization and modify the public agenda.

Young adult cancer caregivers' use of social media for social support

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1185-1192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Echo L. Warner ◽  
Anne C. Kirchhoff ◽  
Lee Ellington ◽  
Austin R. Waters ◽  
Ye Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Cancer Caregivers ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Young Adult Cancer

Social capital affects job performance through social media

2020 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 903-922
Author(s):  
Yung-Shen Yen ◽  
Mei-Chun Chen ◽  
Chun-Hsiung Su
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Job Performance ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Capital Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bonding Social Capital ◽  
Bridging Social Capital ◽  
Female Workers ◽  
Male Workers

PurposeThis study aims to explore the impact of social capital on job performance when workers interact with coworkers through social media in organizations.Design/methodology/approachStructural equation modeling was conducted, and a sample of 230 workers in Taiwan was investigated.FindingsThis study found that bonding social capital has a greater impact on job performance than bridging social capital for interactions among coworkers through social media in organizations. Moreover, bridging social capital affects job performance more strongly for male workers than for female workers, but bonding social capital affects job performance more strongly for female workers than for male workers.Research limitations/implicationsThis study extended social capital theory by adding the mediating effects of job satisfaction and relational satisfaction and the moderating effect of gender into the model.Practical implicationsThis study suggests that company managers need to train workers how to use social media to appropriate their affordances and consider the work team relationship to position adequate strategies for male and female workers.Originality/valueThis study advances the previous knowledge of social capital theory for workers interacting with coworkers through social media in organizations.

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.

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