How different online self-presentations relate to life satisfaction differently in college students: The role of positive online feedback and self-esteem

Abstract

In the Internet age, some online factors, such as online self-presentation, related to life satisfaction have received much attention. However, it is unclear whether and how different strategies of online self-presentation are linked to an individual’s life satisfaction differently. Accordingly, the present study examined the possible different relationships between different online self-presentations and life satisfaction with a sample of 460 Chinese college students. Using a series of questionnaires, a moderated mediation model was built in which positive online feedback was a mediator and self-esteem was a moderator. The results indicated that: (1) positive self-presentation was negatively associated with college students’ life satisfaction, whereas honest self-presentation was positively related to it; (2) positive online feedback was a significant mediator in such relationships; (3) the mediation process was moderated by self-esteem. Specifically, positive self-presentation was negatively related to positive online feedback only for high self-esteem college students, but negatively associated with life satisfaction only for low self-esteem ones. By contrast, honest self-presentation was positively associated with positive online feedback despite the level of self-esteem, but positively linked with life satisfaction only for those with low self-esteem. The findings suggest that honest rather than positive online self-presentation should be conducive to college students’ life satisfaction, particularly for those with low self-esteem. The implications were discussed.

Unpacking the Potential Influence of Life Satisfaction on Network Heterogeneity, Emotional Exhaustion and Mobile App Fatigue: A Stressor–Strain–Outcome Approach

“…As a key indicator of well-being, life satisfaction refers to how an individual evaluates his or her life during the majority of the time, or for a certain period of time [ 16 , 18 , 38 ]. Numerous personal, psychological, behavioral, interpersonal, and social consequences have been demonstrated to be favorably correlated with it.…”

“…In terms of the linkage between life satisfaction and self-presentation, psychological state has been consistently discovered to be positively related to an individual’s self-presentation [ 17 , 18 , 30 ]. For instance, Grieve and Watkinson demonstrated that inauthentic self-presentation on mobile services can be related to numerous psychological problems of maladjustment [ 17 ].…”

“…Similarity, Fan et al determined that well-being was negatively impacted because of how others presented themselves on social media platforms [ 16 ]. More recently, Tian et al confirmed that online self-presentation was negatively connected with the life satisfaction among college students [ 18 ]. While there is no existing evidence for the influence of life satisfaction on self-presentation, the study asserts that mobile app users who have a high level of life satisfaction and experience positive emotions are more prone to be involved in self-presentation on mobile app services.…”

“…Researchers have claimed that life satisfaction is a major factor in the popularity of any website or mobile app site [ 18 , 19 ]. This could be due to the truth that mobile apps promote user participation with a variety of interactions and communications, which results in advantages such as an increased gratification with web-based communication and creates bonding and bridging capital.…”

Positive Self-Disclosure on Social Network Sites and Adolescents’ Friendship Quality: The Mediating Role of Positive Feedback and the Moderating Role of Social Anxiety

“…Social feedback could also provide adolescents with emotional support and informational support, and it is a necessary condition for building strong social ties [ 22 ]. Research also found a mediating role of positive feedback in SNS use and psychological outcomes [ 23 , 24 ]. For example, Liu and Brown found positive feedback mediated the relationship between self-disclosure on SNSs and bonding social capital among Chinese college students [ 22 ].…”