The contribution of mobile social media to social capital and psychological well-being: Examining the role of communicative use, friending and self-disclosure

Abstract

Using a two-wave panel in Hong Kong, this study examines how different uses of mobile social media contribute to individuals' social capital and psychological well-being. Findings showed that communicative use and self-disclosure on mobile social media were positively related to bonding and bridging capital and psychological well-being. Friending was also positively related to bridging capital, but not to bonding capital and psychological well-being. Moreover, both bonding and bridging capital mediated the relationship between mobile social media use and psychological well-being. This study highlights the unique social and technological affordances of smartphones by examining mobile social media use and how it contributes to quality of life.