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"It Is Not Possible to Balance It Easily": A Phenomenological Study Exploring the Experience of Work-Family Conflict in Contemporary Chinese Society.

Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
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Meaning in Life Is Associated with Differing Motivations to Use Social Networking Sites.

Roshan Rai1, Mei-I Cheng1, Jonathan Farnell1

  • 1School of Applied Social Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK.

Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 28, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Exploring social networking site (SNS) use, this study found specific motivations correlate with meaning in life. Positive associations emerged for self-expression and information seeking, while entertainment and new friendships showed negative links.

Keywords:
Social Networking Sitesmeaning in lifesocial mediawellbeing

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

  • Research often focuses on negative aspects of social networking site (SNS) usage.
  • Understanding the positive psychological impacts of SNS engagement is crucial for a balanced perspective.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between motivations for using SNSs and an individual's sense of meaning in life.
  • To explore how different SNS usage motivations relate to the components of meaning: coherence, purpose, and mattering.

Main Methods:

  • A quantitative study involving 384 undergraduate students (aged 18-50).
  • Participants completed questionnaires measuring SNS motivations, time spent on SNSs, and meaning in life.
  • Multiple regression analyses were employed to examine the relationships.

Main Results:

  • Self-expression motivations positively correlated with coherence, purpose, and mattering.
  • Following others and seeking information on SNSs were linked to higher coherence and purpose, respectively.
  • Using SNSs for entertainment or new friendships, and increased time spent on SNSs, were associated with lower coherence and purpose.

Conclusions:

  • Specific motivations for SNS use are differentially associated with various facets of meaning in life.
  • SNS engagement can contribute to or detract from an individual's sense of purpose and direction.
  • Findings highlight the nuanced relationship between digital interactions and psychological well-being.