Positive Orientation and Social Capital: The Insignificance of the Mediating Effects of Social Network Sites Usages

Abstract

This research examined the relationships among positive orientation, types of social network sites (SNS) usage, and social capital. 235 private university students in Malaysia, aged from 18 to 30 (M = 19.64, SD = 1.50), participated in this research. They completed items that reflect on self-esteem, life satisfaction, optimism, the intensity of SNS use, the three connection strategies employed on SNS, and the bridging and bonding aspects of social capital. Factor analysis supported that self-esteem, life satisfaction, and optimism formed a single construct that was interpreted as positive orientation or positivity. Analyses revealed that the specific indirect effects of active use of SNS and the enacted SNS connection strategies on the relationship between positive orientation and social capital were not significant. Results revealed that the inclination to use SNS to seek relevant social information facilitated both weak and strong ties. Despite the benefits of SNS on the development of social capital, individuals with high positivity were able to form weak and strong ties that are beneficial without relying on these online platforms. The implications of the results and directions for future research are discussed.