University of Twente Student Theses
Facebook addiction: where does it come from? : a study based on the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale.
Steggink, B.W. (2015) Facebook addiction: where does it come from? : a study based on the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale.
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| Abstract: | The present study investigates an innovative model of the phenomenon Facebook addiction, focused on (psychological) predictors like social anxiety, loneliness, depression, gender and Facebook usage types. This study, performed with an online survey among 315 respondents in the Netherlands showed that psychological variables have direct and indirect effects on Facebook addiction. Social loneliness is a strong predictor of Facebook addiction just as the construct of Facebook anxiety (the anxiety not getting on Facebook whenever a user wants) which leads to a higher Facebook addiction as well. For family loneliness and depression we found indirect negative effects, while social anxiety and gender resulted in positive direct effects. For romantic loneliness, there was no supporting evidence found. Where one would think that only active usage of Facebook leads to a higher addiction, passive use is a strong predictor as well; both types are creating problematic Facebook use. Finally, there is small evidence that women are more addicted towards Facebook then men. A remarkable conclusion is that women have a higher social anxiety and they are using Facebook more active; for them Facebook is a great alternative to get in contact with others. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 05 communication studies |
| Programme: | Communication Studies MSc (60713) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/67532 |
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