Illuminating the Golden Years: How WeChat Enhances Life Satisfaction Among Chinese Elderly Through the Fulfillment of Basic Psychological Needs.

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the relationship between WeChat use and life satisfaction among the elderly. Additionally, through the lens of self-determination theory, we examined the mediating roles of the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (autonomy, relatedness, and competence) in this relationship. A total of 188 elderly people from China completed the measurements of WeChat use, life satisfaction, and basic psychological needs satisfaction. Results showed that WeChat use is positively correlated with life satisfaction among the elderly. The satisfaction of relatedness need and autonomy need played a mediating role in the relationship between WeChat use and life satisfaction, while the mediating role of competence need satisfaction was not significant. The findings of this study contribute to the literature exploring the relationship between social media use and well-being among the elderly and have important implications for promoting re-socialization and improving the quality of life for this demographic in the digital age.