The mechanisms of social network on subjective well-being from a life course perspective: the mediating role of individual resilience

Background: Social networks are an important factor affecting Chinese residents’ subjective well-being (SWB). Dividing social networks from the functional perspective can elucidate the SWB effect more effectively. This paper aims to explore how different social network supports affect SWB, further analyze the mechanism of individual resilience between them, and observe its changing trend throughout life. Methods: Based on the 2016 China Labor Dynamics Survey data (CLDS), this paper constructs an indicator system of individual resilience and, from the functional perspective, divides social networks into instrumental and emotional functions (SNI and SNE). According to age and the sequence of major life events, classify age groups as the operational variables of life course. The mediating effect and moderated mediating effect are the main models. Results: First, different types of social support in social networks are significant predictors of SWB. Among them, SNI has a greater effect on SWB than SNE and remains stable throughout life. Second, individual resilience is vital to SWB, and its effect does not vary throughout life. Third, individual resilience mediates between social networks and SWB, and its mediating effect increases over life. Conclusions: The theoretical implications of developing social network measurement from a functional perspective and policy implications of focusing on the social support function of social networks and preventing it from disrupting social resource allocation rules are proposed.