Exploring Social Networking Gratifications and Their Impact on Well being through Bonding and Bridging Capital

Exploring the Impact of Social Networking Use on Well-being through the Lens of Gratification Theory

Abstract

In contemporary society, social media platforms have become ubiquitous tools that reshape personal lifestyles and influence subjective well-being. This study elucidate how users derive gratifications from social networking sites SNS and assess their effects on psychological outcomes such as bonding and bridging social capital, which ultimately correlate with higher subjective well-being. Drawing upon the Uses and Gratification Theory, this research investigates whether the key satisfactions provided by SNS usage contribute to improved emotional states and community integration.

Introduction

The advent of social networking platforms has transformed dly interactions, offering users diverse ways to connect, share experiences, and access information. As these tools have become integral to everyday life, it is essential to understand their psychological impacts on users. The exploration of gratifications from SNS use sheds light on why individuals engage with these platforms, while the investigation into social capital provides insights into how such engagement influences subjective well-being.

Methods

A quantitative approach was adopted using a judgemental sampling technique to collect data from 400 students in North India's leading universities. Participants completed an online survey that included validated measures assessing gratifications derived from SNS use and their relationship with social capital types, specifically bonding and bridging forms, as well as subjective well-being.

Results

Findings revealed that several key gratifications significantly motivate users to engage with SNS platforms: entertnment, tension relief, personal integration, information seeking, emotional connection, and socialization. Moreover, the study confirmed a significant association between these gratifications and higher levels of bonding social capital a sense of community belonging and bridging social capital interpersonal networks across diverse groups, which in turn had a positive impact on subjective well-being.

Discussion

The role of social networking usage in promoting psychological health is highlighted through its potential to facilitate both internal connections within communities bonding social capital and broader social interactions that expand individual perspectives and networks bridging social capital. Bonding social capital fosters strong, local ties, while bridging social capital enables individuals to form meaningful connections across different social groups.

Social media platforms have the potential to enhance subjective well-being by addressing fundamental needs for gratification, bonding, and expanding interpersonal networks. The mediating effects of bonding and bridging social capital underscore the significance of these online interactions in fostering emotional health and community integration.

Implications

This study underscores the importance of considering social media's dual role as a tool that can both enrich users' lives by providing necessary satisfactions and potentially influence psychological outcomes positively or negatively deping on how it is used. Understanding these dynamics allows for informed policies and healthy SNS use practices, ensuring they contribute to enhanced subjective well-being.

References

Citations are expected to follow the APA format 7th edition, including a list of relevant literature pertinent to the study's findings on social networking platforms, gratification theory, bondingbridging social capital, and subjective well-being.

s Revision:

• Emphasize practical applications and implications for policy makers, educators, and individuals.

• Suggest directions for future research that could explore more nuanced effects of specific features or types of content on well-being.

This rewritten abstract focuses on clarity, coherence, language proficiency, and academic conventions. The revisions m to ensure the text is suitable for publication in a scholarly journal focused on systems management, mntning a professional tone while providing necessary context for understanding the study's contributions.
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