A moderated-mediation model of the differential influence of social networks services usage to life satisfaction

Abstract

There is a long-held belief about the influence of social networking service (SNS) use to well-being. Previous study reported mixed results between SNS usage and adolescents’ life satisfaction demonstrating their relationships being nuanced and reciprocal over time. The present paper studies whether the mixed results can be explained by sense of identity, functional use of SNS and self-esteem in a hypothesized moderated mediation model. It was hypothesized when SNS usage positively associated with identity synthesis would improve life satisfaction. Conversely, when SNS usage predominantly caused identity confusion, life satisfaction would diminish. Also, using SNS for social or entertainment functions would influence the relationship under the moderation of self-esteem. The data comes from a larger longitudinal study about youth identity status development*. Its first wave of data composing 1817 valid responses was analyzed to test the hypothesized model. The results partly support the moderated mediation model, indicating that social SNS usage decreases adolescents’ life satisfaction when it causes identity confusion, and such an indirect effect was significant when the adolescents have low self-esteem. The results demonstrate that SNS usage is conducive to the development of a sense of identity depending on their functional usages and thereby increases adolescents’ life satisfaction and its detrimental effects influence mainly to adolescents with low self-esteem. It also implies the importance of considering individual differences when assessing the effects of SNS usage on psychological well- being and life satisfaction.