Online self-disclosure and well-being among Vietnamese adolescents: online social support as a mediator

Abstract

Purpose Online self-disclosure and online social support have important effects on well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine the indirect effect of online social support through social networking sites (SNSs) in the link between online self-disclosure through SNSs and well-being among Vietnamese adolescents. Design/methodology/approach Using a convenience sample of 980 Vietnamese adolescents (332 men, 648 women) and three scales (the Subjective Happiness Scale, the Self-Disclosure Scale and the Two-Way Social Support Scale), this study investigated whether online self-disclosure has a direct and indirect effects on well-being when mediated by online social support. Findings Mediation analysis showed that online social support partially mediated the link between online self-disclosure and well-being among Vietnamese adolescents, β = 0.008, standard error = 0.004, confidence interval = [0.001, 0.017]. Originality/value This study provides an important practical basis for developing interventions to improve the well-being of adolescents who use SNSs. This finding indicated that adolescents’ well-being can be enhanced through online self-disclosure and online social support.