Effects of SNSs use and social intelligence on users’ subjective well-being

Purpose Given the widespread use of social networking sites (SNSs) in modern society, both academic researchers and practitioners have focused on exploring the impact of SNSs usage on users’ psychological and behavioral outcomes. However, the connection between SNSs use and users’ mental health remains unclear, with inconsistent results in existing literature. This research aims to fill this gap by investigating the link between SNSs use and users’ subjective well-being, with a particular focus on the mediating role of three types of social intelligence. Design/methodology/approach This study utilizes multivariate techniques, including SPSS and partial least squares structural equation modeling with SmartPLS software, to analyze data from a sample of 299 users across various SNSs in Vietnam. Findings The results reveal that SNSs use positively impacts users’ subjective well-being. Furthermore, the three types of social intelligence—social information processing, social skills and social awareness—act as separate mediators in the nexus between SNSs use and subjective well-being. Originality/value This study makes valuable contributions to both academic research and the business management of SNSs platforms by explaining the relationships among SNSs use, social intelligence and users’ subjective well-being. In particular, the mediating role of the three types of social intelligence offers deeper insights into the complex relationship between SNSs use and users' psychological well-being. The findings provide new evidence on how SNSs use enhances users’ subjective well-being through social intelligence.