Online and Offline Social Activity and Sociability Effects on Wellbeing and Social Influence: A “Spillover” Effect

In this study, we explore the effect of online and offline sociability on wellbeing and social influence reports. We draw upon happiness studies, communication theories, and the social diversification hypothesis to test the effect of online/offline sociability on wellbeing and social influence. We use a secondary level analysis (N = 532) from a representative US population (49% women) published by the Princeton Institute for Internet studies. The findings indicate that online sociability increases whereas offline sociability has no effect on either wellbeing or social influence. Nonetheless, higher online sociability moderates the relationship between the offline sociability and lower wellbeing and social influence. We conclude that online sociability has a stronger direct effect as well as a spillover effect on offline wellbeing and social influence.