Mobile-mediated multimodal communications, relationship quality and subjective well-being: An analysis of smartphone use from a life course perspective

This study examined the relationships among different smartphone uses (i.e. voice, email, SMS, Facebook, WhatsApp), perceived relationship quality and subjective well-being (SWB). Results showed that face-to-face communications and friendship satisfaction were related to psychological well-being and positive emotions across all age cohorts. Mobile voice was related to friendship satisfaction and social support for the older cohorts (35-54 and 55-70+); but also to more negative emotions for the younger cohorts. Facebook use and number of Facebook friends were related to social support and psychological well-being for the 18-34 cohort, while WhatsApp use was related to social support for all cohorts. Some mobile uses however were also related to increased feelings of entrapment and negative emotions for the younger cohorts. The findings are framed in line with the life course literature, and the outcomes suggest that future studies of smartphones and SWB may better be served with more explicit dialectical perspectives and approaches.