Abstract
Background: Whether and how might the diversity of engaged online communities relates to subjective life satisfaction remain unclear in Chinese population. This study with a gender perspective examines the role of increased voluntary participation in the relationship above.
Study Design: A cross-sectional study based on 2,558 respondents recruited from the Chinese Social Survey (CSS), wave 2019.
Results: A greater diversity of engagement in online communities associated with better subjective life satisfaction among both males (B=0.31, se=0.11) and females (B=0.10, se=0.02). More detailed, the positive relationship above was partially (6.6%) mediated by increased voluntary participation among females, as individuals involved in a wider variety of online communities were associated with increased likelihood of engaging in voluntary activities (B=0.006, Z=3.910), which in turn contributed to higher levels of subjective life satisfaction (B=0.114, Z=2.760). However, voluntary participation demonstrated nonsignificant mediating role in the relationship between diversified online community engagement and subjective life satisfaction.
Conclusion: Findings of this study provide valuable insights into the nuanced ways in which online interactions can affect voluntary participation and well-being, highlighting the importance of considering gender differences in these dynamics.