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

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Social media use, emotion regulation, and well-being in adults: A cross-cultural study Wei Ning Ng1* and Desirée Kozlowski1 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 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. 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 Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Wei Ning Ng Desirée Kozlowski Google Wei Ning Ng Desirée Kozlowski Google Scholar Wei Ning Ng Desirée Kozlowski PubMed Wei Ning Ng Desirée Kozlowski Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.