Emotional connectedness to Facebook can be largely predicted by anxiety and alcohol use, according to a recent study by Russell Clayton, a doctoral student at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. The study set out to examine “how emotionally involved Facebook users become with the social networking site and the precursors that lead to Facebook connections with other people.”
The survey – of over 225 college freshmen students at Texas State University – looked at how loneliness, anxiousness, alcohol and marijuana use related to the students’ emotional connectedness to Facebook and their Facebook connections.
‘Emotional connectedness’ to Facebook is a measure of the extent to which individuals are emotionally connected to Facebook, and also the extent to which Facebook is integrated into individual’s daily lives (ex. ‘‘Facebook is part of my everyday activity’’ and ‘‘I would be sorry if Facebook shut down.’’) The likelihood of using Facebook as a platform to connect with others is determined by: the likelihood of individuals to browse others’ Facebook profiles, contact via Facebook, add as a Facebook friend, and ultimately meet face-to-face.
Two main conclusions were drawn from the data:
- students who reported higher levels of anxiousness and alcohol use appeared to be more emotionally connected with Facebook
- students who reported higher levels of loneliness and anxiousness use Facebook as a platform to connect with others
“People who perceive themselves to be anxious are more likely to want to meet and connect with people online, as opposed to a more social, public setting,” said study author Clayton. “Also, when people who are emotionally connected to Facebook view pictures and statuses of their Facebook friends using alcohol, they are more motivated to engage in similar online behaviors in order to fit in socially.”
Why does alcohol lead to more emotional connectedness to Facebook – and why does marijuana have the opposite effect, according to the study? Clayton believes alcohol use, as a more “socially acceptable” activity, increases students’ emotional connection Facebook. Marijuana use is “less normative,” and fewer people post on Facebook about using it; as a results, users are less emotionally attached to using Facebook.
For students who reported higher levels of loneliness, Facebook was an important tool for making connections – but these students were not emotionally connected to the social networking platform.
Are you surprised by these results? Do you see Facebook as a helpful tool for college students dealing with loneliness or anxiety?
Participants in the study were 229 undergraduate students ranging in age from 18 to 21 years old. Most participants were female (74.3%); in terms of ethnicity, the majority (57%) were Causasian, 28.7% Hispanic, 10% African American and 3% Asian American. The average participant had between 301-400 Facebook friends, and the average amount of time each participant spent per day on Facebook ranged between 30 minutes and 1 hour.
