This study examines how active participation, financial commitment, and passive participation in the leading social live-streaming service, Twitch.tv, relate to individuals’ psychological well-being. The three dimensions of social capital—structural, relational, and cognitive—as well as parasocial relationship are explored as mediators. Cross-sectional survey data from 396 respondents was analyzed by comparing two fully saturated structural equation models. Findings indicate actively participating in a favorite streamers’ Chat is positively associated with increased well-being. Structural social capital, or having more social interaction ties, positively mediates the relationship between active participation and well-being, as well as financial commitment and well-being. Greater cognitive social capital, or shared values and goals with a favorite streamer, is related to decreased well-being. Parasocial relationship does not significantly mediate the relationship between use and well-being. Our results demonstrate the importance of tangible social ties over the perceived relationships or identification with a favorite streamer.

中文翻译：

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社交直播的使用和福祉：检查 Twitch.tv 上的参与度、财务承诺、社会资本和心理福祉

本研究探讨了领先的社交直播服务 Twitch.tv 的主动参与、财务承诺和被动参与与个人心理健康的关系。社会资本的三个维度——结构性、关系性和认知性——以及准社会关系被作为中介进行了探索。通过比较两个完全饱和的结构方程模型，对 396 名受访者的横截面调查数据进行了分析。研究结果表明，积极参与喜爱的主播聊天与幸福感的提高呈正相关。结构性社会资本，或者说拥有更多的社会互动关系，可以积极地调节积极参与和福祉以及财务承诺和福祉之间的关系。更大的认知社会资本，或者与最喜欢的主播有共同的价值观和目标，与幸福感下降有关。准社会关系并不显着调节使用和幸福感之间的关系。我们的结果表明，有形的社会关系比感知到的关系或对最喜欢的主播的认同更重要。