Can Burdensome Facebook "Friends" Cause You Pain? Self-Reported Pain as a Motivation for Exclusion. Issue 6 (26th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Okdie, Bradley M; Wirth, James H
• Is Part Of: Journal of computer-mediated communication. Volume 23:Issue 6(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-09-26
• Subjects: Pain -- Exclusion -- Sources of Exclusion -- Burden -- Facebook -- Media; Telematics -- Periodicals; Computer networks -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Communication -- Periodicals; 302.20285
• DOI: 10.1093/jcmc/zmy017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1083-6101

Abstract

Abstract: People need positive social connections, which Facebook can fulfill. However, some Facebook "friends" are poor social exchange partners due to inhibiting a Facebook user's ability to socially connect online. Poor partners may be burdensome and a Facebook user may distance oneself from the burdensome person. We contend pain is a physical signal that motivates exclusionary behaviors towards burdensome others. We manipulated burden by having participants recall (Study 2) or, in Studies 1 and 3, read and think about a Facebook friend who was burdensome, neutral, or rewarding. When recalling or thinking about a burdensome, compared to rewarding or neutral, Facebook friend, participants self-reported more pain, increased negative affect, and indicated they would do more exclusionary Facebook behaviors. Moreover, physical and affective components of self-reported pain mediated the relation between burden and exclusionary behavior. Interactions on Facebook with poor exchange partners (i.e., burdensome) can cause both self-reported physical and psychological distress.