Effect of online and offline social network group clusters on life satisfaction across age groups

Positive social relationships are critical for better subjective well-being across ages. Future research will benefit from examining how to improve life satisfaction by utilizing social groups in new, ever-changing social and technological contexts. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of online and offline social network group clusters on life satisfaction across different age groups.

Data were derived from the Chinese Social Survey (CSS) (2019), which is a nationally representative survey. We adopted a K-mode cluster analysis algorithm to categorize participants into four clusters according to their online and offline social network groups. ANOVA and chi-square analysis were used to understand the associations among age groups, social network group clusters, and life satisfaction. Multiple linear regression was applied to identify the association between social network group clusters and life satisfaction across age groups.

Younger and older adults had higher life satisfaction than middle-aged adults. Individuals who joined diverse social network groups had the highest life satisfaction, followed by those who joined personal and working social groups, while those who joined restricted social groups had the lowest life satisfaction (F = 81.19, p < 0.001). According to the results of multiple linear regression, individuals who belonged to diverse social groups had higher life satisfaction than those who belonged to restricted social groups among adults aged 18-59 years, except students (p < 0.05). Individuals who joined personal and working social groups had higher life satisfaction than those who joined restricted social groups among adults aged 18-29 and 45-59 years (β = 2.15, p < 0.01; β = 1.45, p < 0.01).

Interventions to promote participation in diverse social network groups among adults aged 18-59 years, except for students, are highly recommended to improve life satisfaction. Health practitioners could provide interventions to encourage young and middle-aged adults to join both personal and working social groups.