Date of Award
8-29-2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Discipline
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Prof. LIN Li Jocelyn
Second Advisor
Dr AMEYAW Edward Kwabena
Abstract
In the digital era, preadolescents (aged 9–12 years) increasingly use social media platforms for communication and social interactions. However, research on whether online communication contributes positively or negatively to preadolescents’ well-being is inconclusive. Moreover, the underlying mechanism linking preadolescents’ online communication and well-being remains unclear. Hence, the research objectives are twofold. First, based on the concepts of social enhancement perspectives and self-determination theory, this study investigates the bidirectional relations and potential mechanisms between preadolescents’ online communication factors (including frequency, online self-disclosure, online perceived responsiveness) with four targets (family members, real-life friends, online friends, and online strangers) and well-being (including subjective and psychological needs satisfaction). Second, based on social capital theory, it explores the mechanism behind the links, testing the indirect effect of online communication on well-being via social capital. Using a three-wave longitudinal design, this study recruited a sample of Chinese preadolescents (n = 758, aged 9–13 years, Mage = 10.03, SD = 0.74, 44% girls) who completed the assessments at three time points with six-month intervals.
The Cross-Lagged Panel Model (CLPM) was used to test the main hypotheses. First, the results showed some bidirectional associations between online communication indicators and well-being indicators in different relational contexts. For example, among family members, bidirectional relationships were found between (1) frequency and life satisfaction; (2) frequency and psychological needs satisfaction; (3) online self-disclosure and subjective well-being (life satisfaction, positive affect); and (4) online perceived responsiveness and subjective and psychological needs satisfaction. Among real-life friends, bidirectional relationships were found between online perceived responsiveness and (1) subjective well-being (life satisfaction and negative affect) and (2) psychological needs satisfaction. Among online friends, a bidirectional relationship was found between online perceived responsiveness and psychological needs satisfaction. Among online strangers, bidirectional relationships were found between frequency and psychological needs satisfaction.
Second, the mediation effect of social capital was found only among family members, with no significant effects observed in other target groups. The results indicated that social capital from family members mediated the following relationships: (1) Life satisfaction, positive affect, and psychological needs satisfaction at Time 1 positively predicted social capital from family members at Time 2, which positively predicted online self-disclosure to family members at Time 3. (2) Negative affect at Time 1 negatively predicted social capital at Time 2, and social capital at Time 2 positively predicted online self-disclosure and online perceived responsiveness with family members at Time 3. (3) Psychological needs satisfaction at Time 1 positively predicted social capital at Time 2, which positively predicted online perceived responsiveness from family members at Time 3. Additionally, there was a positive reciprocal mediation effect of social capital from family members between online perceived responsiveness from family members and life satisfaction.
These findings indicate the importance of differentiating communication roles when constructing theories about the relationship between online communication and preadolescents’ well-being. They also highlight the important role of online communication with family members in fostering positive development for preadolescents in the digital era. Therefore, it is recommended that families facilitate supportive online communication with preadolescents to enhance their well-being.
Language
English
Copyright
The copyright of this thesis is owned by its author. Any reproduction, adaptation, distribution or dissemination of this thesis without express authorization is strictly prohibited.
Recommended Citation
Li, X. (2025). The relations between online communication, social capital and well-being in Chinese preadolescents (Doctoral thesis, Lingnan University, Hong Kong). Retrieved from https://commons.ln.edu.hk/otd/264/
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