Is the Self-Categorization of Social Network Consumption Related to Subjective Well-Being? A Longitudinal Study of Spanish Adolescents

Abstract

The impact of social network consumption on adolescents’ subjective well-being (SWB) has remained a subject of debate in cross-sectional studies, and the understanding of how changing social network consumption patterns affect SWB over time is even more limited. This study adopts an innovative approach, utilizing various measurement scales to assess adolescents’ SWB alongside the evolution of their SSNC patterns. A four-wave longitudinal study was conducted involving 341 participants aged 9 to 14 from Spain. The findings indicate that as adolescents age, their perception of SSNC increases, while SWB declines over time. Adolescents categorizing themselves as low consumers of social networks consistently exhibited higher SWB scores than those with medium and high consumption levels. Notably, the relationship between SSNC and SWB showed variations depending on the measurement scale used. An analysis of the evolution of social network consumption profiles (SNCPs) revealed four distinct profiles, although these were not linked to changes in SWB over time. Finally, participants with an extreme consumption profile consistently exhibited significantly lower SWB scores. These findings underscore the importance of continuously monitoring social media use and its effects on SWB, especially within subgroups displaying more extreme consumption patterns, an insight that has implications for preventive interventions.