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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.
Acknowledgements
We thank all those who participated.
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Yue Chen
Yue Chen is an assistant professor in the School of Art Design and Media, East China University of Science and Technology. She received her PhD degree from Tsinghua University and worked with Qin Gao as a postdoctoral researcher. Her research interests include human factors, human-computer interaction, and social media.
Qin Gao
Qin Gao is currently an associate professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. She received her PhD from Tsinghua University. Her primary research interests include user-centered design, cognitive ergonomics, human-computer interaction, and decision making.