Social media and life satisfaction among college students: A moderated mediation model of SNS communication network heterogeneity and social self-efficacy on satisfaction with campus life

Abstract

This study explored whether and how communication network heterogeneity on social networking services (SNSs) is associated with college students' satisfaction with campus life. In particular, it examined the mediating role of social self-efficacy in the relationship between SNS communication network heterogeneity and campus life satisfaction and whether such indirect effects of SNS network heterogeneity on life satisfaction via social self-efficacy are contingent upon college students' origins (in-state vs. out-of-state). The findings show that having greater communication with heterogeneous others on SNSs was positively associated with college students' satisfaction with campus life and that the respondents' perceived social self-efficacy mediated the relationship between SNS communication heterogeneity and campus life satisfaction. Furthermore, this indirect effect of SNS communication network heterogeneity on campus life satisfaction through social self-efficacy was stronger for in-state students than for out-of-state students.