Do social networks help or hurt? Accessed status and tie strength across occupational status and mental well-being

How do social network factors jointly shape different dimensions of inequality? We integrate two pairs of distinct theories (social capital versus social cost, and strength of strong versus weak ties) to theorize how two network factors—network member status (or accessed status) and tie strength—operate both independently and jointly. We develop a set of outcome-matched propositions to theorize how the main and interaction effects of network member status and tie strength vary across inequality dimensions. Using population-representative data from Taiwan, we examine two dimensions of inequality: occupational status and mental well-being (job satisfaction and mental health). Our findings show that network member status and weak ties, both separately and jointly, are positively associated with occupational status. In contrast, network member status and strong ties, both separately and jointly, are positively associated with mental well-being. However, network member status combined with weak ties can be negatively associated with mental well-being. By theorizing and testing outcome-matched main and interaction effects across inequality dimensions, this study highlights how network factors operate jointly while offering a more integrated understanding of how they generate both benefits and costs across domains.