This study was carried out to examine whether the moderated mediating effect of SNS addiction resulting from marital dissatisfaction and loneliness is influenced by gender or size and composition of social capital. 714 married men and women in their 20’s to 40’s were participated in this study. The data were collected by online research center with quota sampling based on demographical proportion. To analyze this research model, the moderated mediating effect utilizing structural equation was used. Specifically, the mediating effect of loneliness between marital dissatisfaction and SNS addiction was examined and, successively, the moderated mediating effect was analyzed in order to inquire what differences this model contains according to gender and social capital, respectively. By examining not only the moderated but also mediating effect, the detailed role of gender and social capital with respect to the relationship between marital dissatisfaction, loneliness and SNS addiction was verified. The results of this study were summarized as follows.
First, as the marital dissatisfaction increased, the degree of SNS addiction showed decrease, but this result was not statistically significant.
Second, as the marital dissatisfaction increased, so did the loneliness.
Third, as the loneliness increased, so did SNS addiction.
Fourth, it is verified that the loneliness moderated between marital dissatisfaction and SNS addiction. Since the relationship between independent and dependent variable is insignificant, comparison of competition model was able to determine if mediating effect was fully or partially shown. As a result, the complete mediated model was ultimately chosen because its various goodness-of-fit index including performed fairly well. That is, the loneliness acted as a full mediated variable between marital dissatisfaction and SNS addiction.
Fifth, the mediated effect with respect to gender was verified as a factor of moderating SNS addiction from marital dissatisfaction through loneliness. The marital dissatisfaction was directly impact on loneliness and the loneliness was directly impact on SNS addiction in male group. However, because, statistically, the level of route of SNS addiction from the marital dissatisfaction was presented insignificantly, the study presented that the loneliness between marital dissatisfaction and SNS addiction was a factor in full mediated variable. Different result was presented in Female group. The marital dissatisfaction had directly impact on the loneliness, and the loneliness had significant impact on SNS addiction. Also the direct route of SNS addiction in the marital dissatisfaction was statistically meaningful. Thus, the route effect toward loneliness from the marital dissatisfaction were demonstrated more significantly in male group rather than female group. However, the difference of the route toward SNS addiction from loneliness and the marital dissatisfaction did not statistically significant.
Sixth, the mediating effect which moderates social capital size was presented in the mediated model between the marital dissatisfaction, loneliness and SNS addiction. In other words, by analyzing multi group mediated model which was divided into two groups, big and small social capital, the effect size between each route presented significant. Specifically, the route of SNS addiction from marital dissatisfaction and that from loneliness showed significant difference. It implies that group who recognizes their social capital big recognizes the route and effect size more than that who considers their social capital small. However, the moderated mediating effect with respect to different size of social capital which was divided into two part, face-to-face and SNS fails to draw valid evidence to verify the hypothesis.
Finally, the moderated mediating effect depending on different type of social capital among the marital dissatisfaction and loneliness and between SNS addiction was substantiated. That is, the group who recognizes that their social capital leaned much towards on their online rather than face-to-face felt more impact on SNS addiction from their loneliness. It implies that disequilibration of SNS social capital in face-to-face sphere and in online acted as a danger fact with respect to the marital dissatisfaction, loneliness and SNS addiction.