Active public Facebook use and adolescents' feelings of loneliness: Evidence for a curvilinear relationship. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Kexin; Frison, Eline; Eggermont, Steven; Vandenbosch, Laura
• Is Part Of: Journal of adolescence. Volume 67(2018)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Active public Facebook use -- Loneliness -- Curvilinear relationship -- Adolescents -- Media effect -- Media selection; Adolescent psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Adolescence -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 305.23505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.05.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-1971

Abstract

Abstract: Inconsistent results have been reported concerning the relationships between SNS usage and loneliness. The current two-wave panel study with a one year interval examined the possibility of reciprocal and curvilinear relationships between active public Facebook use and adolescents' social/emotional loneliness. Belgian adolescents from fifteen high schools participated ( N = 1188, 55% male). The results showed a U-shaped relationship between (1) active Facebook use and social/emotional loneliness and (2) emotional loneliness and active Facebook use. Specifically, active Facebook use predicted decreased social/emotional loneliness among low to moderate users, while among heavy users, increased levels of social/emotional loneliness were predicted by active Facebook use. Emotional loneliness predicted higher active Facebook use among lonely adolescents. At the same time, emotional loneliness predicted decreased active Facebook use among adolescents who did not feel lonely. These findings stress to consider different types of loneliness, and reciprocal and curvilinear relationships in future social media research.