| Social networking sites(SNSs)have developed rapidly in the past decade,and adolescents are one of the main groups using social networking sites at present.Based on previous researches,the study aims to uncover the connections between adolescents' SNSs use intensity and ego-identity,the moderating role of preference for online social interaction,and the mediating effect of online social support.The study was randomly sampled in two cities,Dalian and Shenyang.A sample of 803 adolescents aged 12~19 years old were investigated for the study by SNS use intensity scale,adolescents' online social support questionnaire,preference for online social interaction scale,and ego-identity scale.The data were analyzed using path analysis.The results were as followings:(1)SNSs use intensity negatively predicts adolescents' ego-identity.(2)Online social support positively predicts ego-identity,and it plays a mediating role between the SNSs use intensity and ego-identity.(3)Preference for online social interaction plays a moderating role between SNSs use intensity and online social support.Compared with low preference for online social interaction,when the preference for online social is high,the positive predictive effect of SNS use intensity on online social support is weekend.Conclusion:(1)Adolescents' SNSs use intensity negatively predicts their ego-identity.For adolescents with high SNSs use intensity,the level of their ego-identity is low.(2)Online social support had protecting effects in the relationship between adolescents' SNSs use intensity and their identity.(3)The whole model inspection found that adolescents' SNSs use intensity,preference for online social interaction,online social support and ego-identity formed a moderated mediation model.Preference for online social interaction moderated this mediation effect.Adolescents with high preferences for online social interaction received or perceived less online social supports than those with low preferences for online social interaction.This study could offer some useful suggestions for correctly guiding teenagers to use SNSs and to protect and promote the healthy development of ego-identity. |
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