Social Media Use and Daily Well-Being: The Role of Quantity and Quality of Social Support

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Abstract
There have been mixed findings on whether social media use is positively or negatively related to well-being. Using the Midlife in the United States Refresher study ( N = 782, age 25–75), multilevel structural equation modeling examined social support quantity (time giving and receiving) and quality of as mediators at both the within- (intraindividual) and between-person (interindividual) levels. Giving support significantly mediated at within- and between-person levels: more social media use was associated with more time giving support and worse well-being. Receiving support significantly mediated at the between-person level: more social media use was associated with more time receiving support and worse well-being. When examining social support quality as a mediator, findings showed that more social media use to contact family/friends was related to better social support quality and better well-being. Results added to our understanding of the relationship between social media use and well-being by considering the role of social support quantity/quality.
Funding Information
  • National Institute on Aging (P01-AG020166, T32 AG049666, U19-AG051426)

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