scholarly journals Social Media Use and Adolescents’ Well-Being: Developing a Typology of Person-Specific Effect Patterns

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ine Beyens ◽  
J. Loes Pouwels ◽  
Irene Ingeborg van Driel ◽  
Loes Keijsers ◽  
Patti M. Valkenburg

This study investigated the effects of active private, passive private, and passive public social media use on adolescents’ well-being. Intensive longitudinal data (34,930 assessments in total) were collected through a preregistered three-week experience sampling study among 387 adolescents. Person-specific, N=1 time series were investigated, using Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling (DSEM). We identified a typology of person-specific social media effect patterns, consisting of 45% insusceptibles (i.e., adolescents who experienced no effects of the three types of social media use), 28% negative susceptibles (i.e., adolescents who only experienced negative effects), 26% positive susceptibles (i.e., adolescents who only experienced positive effects), and 1% mixed susceptibles (i.e., adolescents who experienced both positive and negative effects). Overall, the findings show that different adolescents respond to social media differently. Yet, active private, passive private, and passive public social media use only rarely yield different effects within one and the same adolescent.

2021 ◽  
pp. 009365022110381
Author(s):  
Ine Beyens ◽  
J. Loes Pouwels ◽  
Irene I. van Driel ◽  
Loes Keijsers ◽  
Patti M. Valkenburg

This study investigated the effects of active private, passive private, and passive public social media use on adolescents’ affective well-being. Intensive longitudinal data (34,930 assessments in total) were collected through a preregistered three-week experience sampling method study among 387 adolescents. N = 1 time series were investigated, using Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling. Findings showed that different types of social media use very rarely yielded different effects within one and the same adolescent: 45% of adolescents experienced no changes in well-being due to any of the three types of social media use, 28% only experienced declines in well-being, and 26% only experienced increases in well-being. Only one adolescent experienced the theoretically expected effect pattern of a positive effect of active private and passive private use and negative effect of passive public use. Together, the findings suggest that the active–passive use dichotomy in social media research is less clear-cut than it might seem.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patti M. Valkenburg ◽  
Ine Beyens ◽  
J. Loes Pouwels ◽  
Irene Ingeborg van Driel ◽  
Loes Keijsers

A recurring hypothesis in the literature is that “passive” social media use (browsing) leads to negative effects on well-being. This preregistered study investigated a rival hypothesis, which states that the effects of browsing on well-being depend on person-specific susceptibilities to envy, inspiration, and enjoyment. We conducted a three-week experience sampling study among 353 adolescents (13-15 years, 126 assessments per adolescent). Using a novel, N=1 method of analysis, we found sizeable heterogeneity in the associations of browsing with envy, inspiration, and enjoyment (e.g., for envy ranging from β = -.44 to β = +.71). The passivity hypothesis was confirmed for 20% of adolescents and rejected for 80%. More adolescents with browsing-induced envy experienced negative effects on well-being (25%) than adolescents with no browsing-induced envy (13%). Conversely, more adolescents with browsing-induced enjoyment experienced positive effects on well-being (47%) than adolescents with no browsing-induced enjoyment (9%).


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangqi Zhong ◽  
Pengpeng Li ◽  
Jinchao Xi

This study focused on the frequency of social media use. Through investigating and verifying the correlations between social media use frequency, online political participation, and social capital, we derived two models of socialization that affect citizen well-being and, accordingly, proposed strategic suggestions for democratic society construction and network management. This study drew upon the 2019 Taiwan Communication Survey database and used structural equation modeling (SEM) as a statistical method to explore the causal relationship between these four variables (social media use, online political participation, social capital and well-being). The data analysis yielded an overall good fit with the overall fit indicators: χ2 = 214.417, df = 84, p = 2.293, RMSEA = 0.028, GFI = 0.998, CFI = 0.986, SRMR = 0.066, and CN = 993.411. Future communication scholars who wish to explore issues related to new media users can draw on this model for subsequent research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-78
Author(s):  
Patti Valkenburg ◽  
Ine Beyens ◽  
J Loes Pouwels ◽  
Irene I van Driel ◽  
Loes Keijsers

Abstract Eighteen earlier studies have investigated the associations between social media use (SMU) and adolescents’ self-esteem, finding weak effects and inconsistent results. A viable hypothesis for these mixed findings is that the effect of SMU differs from adolescent to adolescent. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a preregistered three-week experience sampling study among 387 adolescents (13–15 years, 54% girls). Each adolescent reported on his/her SMU and self-esteem six times per day (126 assessments per participant; 34,930 in total). Using a person-specific, N = 1 method of analysis (Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling), we found that the majority of adolescents (88%) experienced no or very small effects of SMU on self-esteem (−.10 < β < .10), whereas 4% experienced positive (.10 ≤ β ≤ .17) and 8% negative effects (−.21 ≤ β ≤ −.10). Our results suggest that person-specific effects can no longer be ignored in future media effects theories and research.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mousa Albashrawi ◽  
Yousef Asiri ◽  
Muhammad Binsawad ◽  
Latifah Alqahtani

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Tan Cheng ◽  
Pan Zhang ◽  
Yuping Wen ◽  
Liyin Wang

We examined the impact of social media use on employee innovative performance, and the psychological mechanism underlying this relationship. Our hypothesis was that social media use would have a positive influence on employee innovative performance and that work engagement would act as a mediator in this relationship. We employed structural equation modeling to investigate this mediating role with 298 employees of a large enterprise in China. Results of a time-lagged survey showed that both social media use and work engagement were significantly correlated with innovative performance, and work engagement partially mediated the social media use–innovative performance relationship. These findings shed light on how social media use affects employee innovative performance. Theoretical and practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 8973
Author(s):  
Anastasios-Ioannis Theocharidis ◽  
Maria Argyropoulou ◽  
George Karavasilis ◽  
Vasiliki Vrana ◽  
Evangelos Kehris

Today, social media have become a major trend, and consumers are engaging more and more in the social media platforms used by hotels. This does not mean that they book a hotel room via social media, as the booking process is a complex one. The paper investigates the factors that affect users’ intention to book a hotel room using social media applications. The recent enforcement of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in California may have an impact on consumers’ behavior. To investigate this further, the study integrates into a model the following constructs: Perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, trust in online hoteliers, social media use, and permission-based-acceptance. The survey was conducted on Greek users of social media. An online questionnaire was used for data collection. The conceptual model was tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis. The study identified four factors that directly or indirectly influence consumers’ intention to book hotel rooms through social media. Usefulness directly affects intention to book online. Permission-based acceptance plays a core role in the model. Both constructs trust in online hoteliers and social media use, and have a direct positive effect on permission-based acceptance, whereas permission-based acceptance has a direct positive influence on intention to book through social media. The validated model stretches the need for hoteliers to obtain permission from consumers in carrying out their marketing activities. It is important for hotel owners, managers, and social media specialists to keep consumers in mind, offer them useful information and services, and have a trustworthy behavior in order to boost bookings through social media.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 931-931
Author(s):  
Xin Yao Lin ◽  
Margie Lachman

Abstract There are mixed findings as to whether social media use (SMU) is positively or negatively related to well-being (positive/negative affect), and this relationship varies by age. The current study seeks to further explore this relationship by examining physical activity (PA) as a potential mediator at both a within (intraindividual) and between-person (interindividual) level across adulthood. The data are from the Midlife in the United States Refresher eight-day daily diary study (N=782, ages 25-75) with self-reported frequency of SMU, PA, and well-being (positive/negative affect). Multilevel structural equation modeling simultaneously tested how the relationships between the variables differed at both the between- and within-person levels. Between-person results showed that across the week, those who reported less SMU reported engaging in more PA, and more PA was associated with more positive affect. PA significantly mediated the relationship between SMU and positive affect for midlife and older adults, but not for younger adults. Effects for negative affect were not significant. Within-person results indicated that days with more PA were associated with more positive affect; however, PA did not mediate the relationship between SMU and positive or negative affect. These findings suggest the benefits of engaging in PA on one’s positive emotional well-being at both the between- and within-person levels. However, for midlife and older adults, more SMU across the week may take away time from engaging in PA, which in turn lowers their positive affect. Implications of the effects of SMU on PA and well-being across adulthood are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Xiaomeng Sun

Fostering student creativity is widely accepted as an important goal in Chinese higher education, and social media is now integrated into students' everyday lives. I investigated how social media use in study contexts is related to students' engagement and creativity. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data from 652 undergraduate students at 3 Chinese public universities. Structural equation modeling results show that social media use in study contexts was related to student engagement and creativity, and that student engagement partially mediated the relationship between social media use and student creativity. This provides insight into how to promote student creativity. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are presented, and future directions for research are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Yan Huang ◽  
Jie Zhang

Social media is becoming a platform for student entrepreneurship; however, little is known about the influence of social media use on students' entrepreneurial intention. This study investigated social media use as a predictor of students' entrepreneurial intention, with consideration given to the mediating role of self-efficacy. Questionnaires were given to undergraduate students at three Chinese public universities, and 524 effective responses were received. We used structural equation modeling to test our hypotheses. The results show that social media use was indirectly related to students' entrepreneurial intention via self-efficacy. Our findings extend the literature on the social media use–entrepreneurial intention link, and highlight the importance of self-efficacy in this link. Thus, educators could endorse social media tools and encourage students to incorporate these into their entrepreneurial activities.


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