Disentangling the Role of Social Networking Attitudes and Use on Emotional Well-being

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Daniel S. Hunt

Worcester State University, Massachusetts, USA (Correspondence: dhunt@worcester.edu)

Archana Krishnan

University of Albany, State University of New York, USA

Citation: Hunt, D.S., & Krishnan, A. (2021). Disentangling the role of social networking attitudes and use on emotional well-being. Journal of Communication Technology, 4(3), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.51548/joctec-2021-015

Abstract: Scholarly research examining social networking and well-being have provided contradictory results, suggesting that further research explore the complex relationships between antecedents, behavior, and well-being outcomes. In this study, we assess how attitudes toward social networking and SNS use influence emotional well-being by surveying a sample of U.S. adults (N = 500). We apply theories of technology adoption and media choice to explicate the role of communication attitudes in predicting behavioral outcomes. The results of our structural equation model demonstrate that SNS use negatively impacts users’ emotional well-being. Social connection, ease of use, and confidence attitudes increase SNS use and have an indirect influence on well-being. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings as well as future directions for research involving frequent SNS use and emotional well-being are discussed.

Keywords: social networking sites, SNSs, technology adoption, emotional quality of life, emotional well-being, communication attitudes