Online–Offline Social Interaction, Interpersonal Well-Being, and Age Cohort Resilience Among Chinese Adolescents

Abstract

Research has documented the various effects of internet use on adolescent well-being. However, few studies have integrated the Displacement Hypothesis and the Stimulation Hypothesis to compare the effects of online and offline communication on the quality of interpersonal relationships among adolescents. Moreover, limited research has examined the role of age cohort in these relationships. The present study addresses these gaps by investigating the age-related differences in these associations. Specifically, we examined the influence of both online and offline communication on the quality of adolescents’ interpersonal relationships and explored the moderating role of age cohort. Data were drawn from the China Family Panel Studies, a nationally representative survey. A cross-sectional sample of 1486 adolescents aged 10 to 15 years (54.4% boys and 45.6% girls) was analyzed using correlation, hierarchical regression, and bootstrap-based mediation analyses. The results indicated that adolescents who engaged in more online communication also tended to engage in more offline communication. Furthermore, both online and offline communication are jointly related to the quality of interpersonal relationships among adolescents. Importantly, age cohort was found to moderate the effects of both online and offline communication on the quality of interpersonal relationships. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.