Event Abstract

Social media use, emotion regulation, and well-being in adults: A cross-cultural study

  • 1 Department of Psychological Science, School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Australia

Aims: Individuals from Western cultures are more likely than those from Eastern cultures to use strategies to enhance the positive emotions they experience. Such cross-cultural differences in the emphasis on positive emotions are associated with well-being. Social networking site (SNS) use has been found to be associated with well-being, although results from studies in different cultures have yielded mixed results. In this study we aimed to explore the relationship between emotion regulation and well-being across cultures. Our second aim was to examine the relationship between social networking activity intensity and well-being. Methods: A sample of 299 respondents from Australia (N = 237; M age = 39.81, SD = 15.47; 77.64% female) and Singapore (N = 62; M age = 35.37, SD = 14.58; 64.52% female) completed an online survey consisting of demographic questions, the Savoring Beliefs Inventory, Ways of Savoring Checklist, Social Networking Activity Intensity Scale and the WHO-5. Results: There was no significant difference in subjective well-being between participants living in Singapore and Australia. Social networking activity intensity was not significantly correlated with well-being. Amplifying behaviour was significantly correlated with well-being for respondents in both countries (overall, r = .316, p < .001). For Australians (r = -.399, p < .001) but not Singaporeans, there was a moderate and significant correlation between dampening and well-being. Conclusion: These results indicate that enhancing positive emotional reactions is positively correlated with well-being in both cultures. While respondents from Singapore had a greater tendency than those from Australia to dampen their positive emotional reactions, this was not correlated with their well-being. The fact that social network activity intensity did not covary with well-being is contrary to some previous claims, which suggests the need for further research to identify the exact aspects of social media use that might influence well-being in individuals.

Keywords: Emotion Regulation, Positive emotions, Subjective well-being, culture, social networking activity

Conference: 15th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference , Coffs Harbour, Australia, 4 Oct - 5 Oct, 2018.

Presentation Type: Research

Topic: Abstract for 15th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference

Citation: Ng W and Kozlowski D (2019). Social media use, emotion regulation, and well-being in adults: A cross-cultural study. Front. Psychol. Conference Abstract: 15th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference . doi: 10.3389/conf.fpsyg.2018.74.00029

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Received: 18 Sep 2018; Published Online: 27 Sep 2019.

* Correspondence: Miss. Wei Ning Ng, Department of Psychological Science, School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, Australia, w.ng.18@student.scu.edu.au