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research-article

Facebook use and depressive symptomatology

Authors:

Teague E. Simoncic,

Kate R. Kuhlman,

Nestor L. Lopez-DuranAuthors Info & Claims

Computers in Human Behavior, Volume 40, Issue C

Pages 1 - 5

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.07.039

Published: 01 November 2014 Publication History

Abstract

We examined the impact of Facebook use, personality, and sex on depressive symptoms.We found no direct link between Facebook use and depressive symptoms.Facebook use among high neuroticism females predicted lower depressive symptoms. The popularity of social networking sites, such as Facebook, has increased rapidly over the past decade, especially among youth. Consequently, the impact of Facebook use on mental health problems (e.g., depressive symptomatology) has become a recent area of concern. Yet, evidence for such a link has been mixed and factors that contribute to heterogeneity of findings have not been identified. In this study, we examined whether the association between Facebook use and depressive symptoms is moderated by individual factors (i.e., personality and sex). To this end, we measured Facebook use, depressive symptoms, and personality domains (i.e., extroversion and neuroticism) among 237 young adults. No direct association was found between Facebook use and depressive symptoms. However, for females with high neuroticism, more frequent Facebook use was associated with lower depressive symptoms. Our findings suggest a complex relationship between Facebook use and depressive symptomatology that appears to vary by sex and personality. Facebook use may be protective against depressive symptoms for female users with high levels of neuroticism, while Facebook use may be unrelated to depressive symptoms among males.

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Cited By

Huang C(2019)Social network site use and Big Five personality traitsComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2019.03.00997:C(280-290)Online publication date: 1-Aug-2019
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.chb.2019.03.009
Frost RRickwood D(2017)A systematic review of the mental health outcomes associated with Facebook useComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2017.08.00176:C(576-600)Online publication date: 1-Nov-2017
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.chb.2017.08.001
Yoo JJeong E(2017)Psychosocial effects of SNS useComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2016.12.01169:C(108-119)Online publication date: 1-Apr-2017
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.chb.2016.12.011
Show More Cited By

Facebook use and depressive symptomatology
1. Human-centered computing

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Published In

cover image Computers in Human Behavior

Computers in Human Behavior Volume 40, Issue C

November 2014

190 pages

ISSN:0747-5632

Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © Elsevier Ltd.

Publisher

Elsevier Science Publishers B. V.

Netherlands

Publication History

Published: 01 November 2014

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Cited By

Huang C(2019)Social network site use and Big Five personality traitsComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2019.03.00997:C(280-290)Online publication date: 1-Aug-2019
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.chb.2019.03.009
Frost RRickwood D(2017)A systematic review of the mental health outcomes associated with Facebook useComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2017.08.00176:C(576-600)Online publication date: 1-Nov-2017
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.chb.2017.08.001
Yoo JJeong E(2017)Psychosocial effects of SNS useComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2016.12.01169:C(108-119)Online publication date: 1-Apr-2017
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.chb.2016.12.011
Horzum M(2016)Examining the relationship to gender and personality on the purpose of Facebook usage of Turkish university studentsComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2016.06.01064:C(319-328)Online publication date: 1-Nov-2016
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.chb.2016.06.010

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