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Mediating Role of Volunteering in the Associations Between Different ICTs Usage and Life Satisfaction: Sense of Social Security as a Moderator

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  • Xiaorui Huang
  • Yujia Hou
  • Mingqi Fu

Abstract

Extensive research has explored the positive relationship between internet communication technologies (ICTs) usage and life satisfaction. However, whether increased prosocial behaviors, specifically volunteering, mediate this relationship remains under-investigated, especially considering the moderating effect of the sense of social security (SSS). This study uses data from the 2021 Chinese Social Survey, encompassing 3,440 individuals. Path analyses are employed to analyze the proposed moderated mediation model. ICTs usage types are information-seeking (news browsing and learning), socially-oriented (chatting/making friends and business), and recreational activities. Results indicate that all forms of ICTs usage are positively associated with life satisfaction. Nevertheless, the mediating role of volunteering is only significant for ICTs usage related to news browsing (indirect effect = 0.09, SE = 0.02) and business (indirect effect = 0.06, SE = 0.02). Moreover, SSS moderates the mediation effect of volunteering in the relationship between news browsing and enhanced life satisfaction, where the mediation effect diminishes as SSS levels increase. This study reveals the role of prosocial behaviors in promoting life satisfaction after ICTs usage, endorsing cognition or financial resources, and urges for a greater chance of volunteering, especially among individuals with a relatively lower level of social security sense.

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  • Xiaorui Huang & Yujia Hou & Mingqi Fu, 2025. "Mediating Role of Volunteering in the Associations Between Different ICTs Usage and Life Satisfaction: Sense of Social Security as a Moderator," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(3), pages 21582440251, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:15:y:2025:i:3:p:21582440251375571
    DOI: 10.1177/21582440251375571
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