Title: Cyber connections: exploring sociotechnical stress, social bonding, and the dynamics of social media on wellbeing in the digital age

Authors: Rana Muhammad Sohail Jafar; Ben Niu; Manahil Jabeen; Ahmad Samed Al-Adwan; Rohana Bt Sham; Waleed Mugahed Al-Rahmi

Addresses: Strategic Research Institute, Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, Kuala Lumpur, 57000, Malaysia; College of Business, Al Yamamah University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ' College of Management, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China ' School of Economics and Statistics Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China ' Department of Business Technology, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan ' Strategic Research Institute, Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, Kuala Lumpur, 57000, Malaysia ' Department of Management Information System, College of Business Administration, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh 13314, Al Falah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract: This study investigates the intricate relationships between social capital, well-being, and employees' social media usage in professional and personal contexts, exploring how sociotechnical stress moderates these dynamics. Utilising partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with data from 1,002 employees across Pakistani public and private organisations, the research reveals that social media use significantly enhances individual well-being by leveraging social capital. The findings demonstrate that social media's impact extends beyond mere communication, serving as a critical mechanism for personal fulfilment and organisational engagement. By providing a comprehensive analysis of social media's multifaceted influences, the study offers profound theoretical insights and practical implications for understanding employee well-being in the digital workplace, ultimately highlighting the transformative potential of socio-digital interactions.

Keywords: sociotechnical stress; social bonding; social bridging; social capital; social-media; well-being.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2026.152904

International Journal of Business and Systems Research, 2026 Vol.20 No.2, pp.115 - 138

Received: 29 Nov 2024
Accepted: 03 Feb 2025
Published online: 14 Apr 2026 *

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