The Effects of College Students’ Online and Offline Interactions on School Life Satisfaction and Life Satisfaction: Focusing on the Mediating Effect of Communication

This study was conducted to investigate the direct effects of college students' online and offline interactions on their satisfaction with school life and life in general, as well as the indirect effects mediated by communication. For this purpose, data from the “Study on Social Development of the MZ Generation in the COVID-19 Era” collected by the Korean Children, Youth, and Young Adults Data Archive were used, specifically the annual NYPI cross-sectional survey data. A total of 800 college students nationwide were analyzed using the SPSS 29.0 and AMOS 29.0 programs for structural equation modeling. The analysis results are as follows. First, online interaction among college students did not have a significant impact on school life or life satisfaction. Second, offline interaction among college students had a significant impact on both school life satisfaction and life satisfaction. Third, communication had a significant effect on both school life satisfaction and life satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of relationships, interactions, and communication among college students and suggest the need for active interventions at the institutional level to enhance their satisfaction with school life and life overall.