TY - JOUR
T1 - Seeing everyone else's highlight reels
T2 - How Facebook usage is linked to depressive symptoms
AU - Steers, Mai Ly N.
AU - Wickham, Robert E.
AU - Acitelli, Linda K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Guilford Publications, Inc.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Two studies investigated how social comparison to peers through computer-mediated interactions on Facebook might impact users' psychological health. Study 1 (N = 180) revealed an association between time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms for both genders. However, results demonstrated that making Facebook social comparisons mediated the link between time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms for men only. Using a 14-day diary design (N = 152), Study 2 found that the relationship between the amount of time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms was uniquely mediated by upward, nondirectional, and downward Facebook social comparisons. Similarly, all three types of Facebook social comparisons mediated the relationship between the number of Facebook logins and depressive symptoms. Unlike Study 1, gender did not moderate these associations. Both studies provide evidence that people feel depressed after spending a great deal of time on Facebook because they feel badly when comparing themselves to others.
AB - Two studies investigated how social comparison to peers through computer-mediated interactions on Facebook might impact users' psychological health. Study 1 (N = 180) revealed an association between time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms for both genders. However, results demonstrated that making Facebook social comparisons mediated the link between time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms for men only. Using a 14-day diary design (N = 152), Study 2 found that the relationship between the amount of time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms was uniquely mediated by upward, nondirectional, and downward Facebook social comparisons. Similarly, all three types of Facebook social comparisons mediated the relationship between the number of Facebook logins and depressive symptoms. Unlike Study 1, gender did not moderate these associations. Both studies provide evidence that people feel depressed after spending a great deal of time on Facebook because they feel badly when comparing themselves to others.
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U2 - 10.1521/jscp.2014.33.8.701
DO - 10.1521/jscp.2014.33.8.701
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84908463652
SN - 0736-7236
VL - 33
SP - 701
EP - 731
JO - Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
JF - Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
IS - 8
ER -