title: Loneliness and Facebook motives in adolescence: a longitudinal inquiry into directionality of effect.
abstract: The increasing popularity of Facebook among adolescents has stimulated research to investigate the relationship between Facebook use and loneliness, which is particularly prevalent in adolescence. The aim of the present study was to improve our understanding of the relationship between Facebook use and loneliness. Specifically, we examined how Facebook motives and two relationship-specific forms of adolescent loneliness are associated longitudinally. Cross-lagged analysis based on data from 256 adolescents (64% girls, M(age) = 15.88 years) revealed that peer-related loneliness was related over time to using Facebook for social skills compensation, reducing feelings of loneliness, and having interpersonal contact. Facebook use for making new friends reduced peer-related loneliness over time, whereas Facebook use for social skills compensation increased peer-related loneliness over time. Hence, depending on adolescents' Facebook motives, either the displacement or the stimulation hypothesis is supported. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
authors: Department School Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development, University of Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Eveline.Teppers@ppw.kuleuven.be.
authors: Eveline
authors: E
authors: Teppers
authors: Department School Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Koen
authors: K
authors: Luyckx
authors: Department Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, The Netherlands.
authors: Theo A
authors: TA
authors: Klimstra
authors: Department School Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Luc
authors: L
authors: Goossens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescence; Facebook; Loneliness; Longitudinal; Motives