Does Receiving or Providing Social Support on Facebook Influence Life Satisfaction? Stress as Mediator and Self-Esteem as Moderator

Authors

  • Yixin Chen Sam Houston State University
  • Richard S. Bello Sam Houston State University

Keywords:

Facebook, social support, stress, self-esteem, life satisfaction

Abstract

We propose a model that assumes that receiving and providing social support on Facebook reduces stress, which subsequently improves life satisfaction. The model also hypothesizes that self-esteem moderates the relationship between receiving social support via Facebook and life satisfaction and the relationship between providing social support via Facebook and life satisfaction. Applying mediation and moderation analyses to data collected from undergraduate students taking an introductory communication course at a U.S. public university (N = 382) yielded three results. First, there was no significant indirect effect of receiving social support on life satisfaction via stress. Second, providing social support increased stress, which subsequently reduced life satisfaction. Finally, self-esteem moderates the relationship between providing social support and life satisfaction: Among students with low self-esteem, providing social support significantly improved life satisfaction; however, among students with high self-esteem, providing social support did not influence life satisfaction. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Author Biographies

Yixin Chen, Sam Houston State University

Yixin "Cindy" Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Sam Houston State University. As a health and interpersonal communication researcher, Cindy studies how interpersonal and mediated communication processes influence individuals' cognition and emotion. She is also interested in the impact of cognition and emotion on health decision-making, health behaviors, and personal well-being. Currently, her research centers on how social support is associated with well-being, and how health literacy and health beliefs are related to health/risky behaviors. Her works have appeared in communication, psychology, and substance use journals.Her phone number is (936) 294-3164.

Richard S. Bello, Sam Houston State University

After obtaining a minor in communication studies at Louisiana State University in 1977, Richard Bello decided to make the study of human communication his life’s work. In 1979, he earned a master’s degree with a concentration in communication theory and research from LSU. Richard spent most of the last 35 years as an assistant professor of speech communication at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. While there, he earned a Ph.D. in LSU’s Department of Communication Studies in 1999 before moving to Sam Houston State University in 2003. Richard enjoys both teaching and research, with over 60 research presentations at professional conferences, more than 25 articles in scholarly journals, and several book chapters and encyclopedia entries to his credit.  He has won awards for outstanding departmental teaching, research, and service.

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Published

2017-07-14

Issue

Vol. 11 (2017)

Section

Articles

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