Effects of Social Media Self-Efficacy on Informational Use, Loneliness, and Self-Esteem of Older Adults
Abstract
Social media is convenient for older adults to obtain and share information (i.e., informational use). However, a major barrier to using social media for older adults is their relatively low social media self-efficacy. The effects of this on informational use and mental well-being have not been well studied. Therefore, this study surveyed 276 older Chinese adults aged 60–90 and constructed a structural equation model. We found that higher social media self-efficacy was strongly and directly associated with more informational use, less loneliness, and higher self-esteem. It also positively affected happiness, mediated by loneliness and self-esteem. Informational use decreased loneliness but did not significantly affect self-esteem. We explained these results by the moderation effects of age and social media self-efficacy. This study confirmed the urgency of increasing older adults’ social media self-efficacy for their mental well-being and successful aging. We also outlined design implications for increasing social media self-efficacy.
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Social media usage such as informational uses increases people's self-esteem.
“social media usage like for informational uses was found to increase people’s self-esteem [28]”
From How social media usage affects psychological and subjective well-being: testing a moderated mediation model (2023) · cites this paper as [28]
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References 95 · Cited by 70
- Authors
- Chen, Y., & Gao, Q.
- Affiliations
- East China University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Tsinghua University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Gao, Qin
- Venue
- International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2022-05-11
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1121-1133
- ISSN
- 1044-7318 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7590
- OpenAlex
- W4280616642
- Cited by
- 70
- References
- 95
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 25.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (62)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Technology Use by Older Adults
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
- Keywords
- older adults, loneliness, self-esteem, happiness, psychological well-being, successful aging, age differences, Chinese older adults
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