Are Facebook "Friends" Helpful? Development of a Facebook-Based Measure of Social Support and Examination of Relationships Among Depression, Quality of Life, and Social Support

Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking
Wilfred McCloskeyKendal Maxwell

Abstract

Greater social support is predictive of lower depression and higher quality of life (QOL). However, the way in which social support is provided has changed greatly with the expanding role of social networking sites (e.g., Facebook). While there are numerous anecdotal accounts of the benefits of Facebook-based social support, little empirical evidence exists to support these assertions, and there are no empirically validated measures designed to assess social support provided via this unique social networking medium. This study sought to develop an empirically sound measure of Facebook-based social support (Facebook Measure of Social Support [FMSS]) and to assess how this new measure relates to previously established measures of support and two outcome variables: depression and QOL. Following exploratory factor analysis, the FMSS was determined to assess four factors of social support on Facebook (Perceived, Emotional, Negative, Received/Instrumental). The Negative Support factor on the FMSS was most strongly related to both depression and QOL with magnitudes (and direction of relationships) comparable to a traditional measure of perceived social support. However, two FMSS factors (Received/Instrumental and Perceived) were unrel...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 29, 2015·Journal of Community Health·Ariel ShensaBrian A Primack
Feb 23, 2019·Menopause : the Journal of the North American Menopause Society·Nancy FreeborneLisa Warsinger Martin
Nov 25, 2016·JMIR Mental Health·Elizabeth M SeabrookNikki S Rickard
Feb 28, 2018·Journal of Medical Internet Research·Alan R TeoSteven K Dobscha
Feb 2, 2021·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Ilaria CataldoGianluca Esposito

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