Sociology

Business

Bridging (networking)

Computer network

Social science

Mobile telephony

Internet privacy

Advertising

Philosophy

Cognitive psychology

Psychology

Affect (linguistics)

Affordance

Mobile phone

Phone

Computer science

Linguistics

Mobile radio

Communication

Social capital

Telecommunications

Social psychology

New Media & Society

The number of mobile phone subscriptions worldwide reached almost 7 billion in 2013. Therefore, the social and psychological consequences of the technology are of great interest to new media scholars and policy makers. Adopting an affordance-based approach, this study examines how different uses of the mobile phone are related to individuals’ subjective well-being and social capital. Findings from a national survey showed that both voice and online communication with the mobile phone is positively related to various indicators of subjective well-being and bonding and bridging capital. Moreover, both bonding and bridging capital mediated the relationship between mobile phone use and subjective well-being. On the other hand, non-communicative uses, such as information seeking activities, were negatively related to positive affect and passing time activities were positively related to negative affect. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Mobile phones and the good life: Examining the relationships among mobile use, social capital and subjective well-being