Exploring associations between young adults’ facebook use and psychological well-being: A goal hierarchy approach

Yoonhyuk Jung; Suzanne D. Pawlowski; Hee Woong Kim

doi:10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2016.10.005

Exploring associations between young adults’ facebook use and psychological well-being: A goal hierarchy approach

Yoonhyuk Jung, Suzanne D. Pawlowski, Hee Woong Kim

Graduate School of Information

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

There is scant research on the broader outcomes of IT in users’ life contexts beyond adoption. This study uses a goal hierarchy approach to deepen our understanding of the relationship between the use of Facebook and psychological well-being (PWB) in young adults. The study applies a mixed-method design that combines means-end analysis and regression analysis to examine data collected from laddering interviews with 161 Facebook users. The means-end chain analysis provided knowledge of the hierarchical goal structure in Facebook (i.e., activities → mediated goals → ultimate goals). Regression analysis was used to identify the relationships between the ultimate goals of Facebook use (e.g., psychological stability, belongingness) and the dimensions of PWB (e.g., self-acceptance, autonomy). The findings explain the significant association of Facebook use with well-being and the dual outcomes of enjoyment (positive in SNS; negative in users’ lives). Prior research focused on relationships among abstract factors, but this study delivers a more specific and nuanced explanation of user behavior on SNSs by providing knowledge of how specific Facebook activities relate to goals and PWB.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1391-1404
Number of pages	14
Journal	International Journal of Information Management
Volume	37
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2016.10.005
Publication status	Published - 2017 Feb 1

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Our findings specified six high-level goals on Facebook. Belongingness (G10) is the most centralized ultimate goal, which is supported by several subordinate goals. Catching up on others’ lives (G3) is a fundamental means for users to achieve a sense of community. By catching up on others’ lives on Facebook, users can maintain their social relationships and, ultimately, gain a sense of belongingness. Additionally, catching up on others’ lives on Facebook enables users to maintain connections with weak-tie acquaintances with whom users rarely interact offline; subsequently, users can achieve a sense of belongingness. These findings show that users seek belongingness on Facebook by managing social relationships, including distant relations.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Information Systems
Computer Networks and Communications
Library and Information Sciences

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2016.10.005

Cite this

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title = "Exploring associations between young adults{\textquoteright} facebook use and psychological well-being: A goal hierarchy approach",

abstract = "There is scant research on the broader outcomes of IT in users{\textquoteright} life contexts beyond adoption. This study uses a goal hierarchy approach to deepen our understanding of the relationship between the use of Facebook and psychological well-being (PWB) in young adults. The study applies a mixed-method design that combines means-end analysis and regression analysis to examine data collected from laddering interviews with 161 Facebook users. The means-end chain analysis provided knowledge of the hierarchical goal structure in Facebook (i.e., activities → mediated goals → ultimate goals). Regression analysis was used to identify the relationships between the ultimate goals of Facebook use (e.g., psychological stability, belongingness) and the dimensions of PWB (e.g., self-acceptance, autonomy). The findings explain the significant association of Facebook use with well-being and the dual outcomes of enjoyment (positive in SNS; negative in users{\textquoteright} lives). Prior research focused on relationships among abstract factors, but this study delivers a more specific and nuanced explanation of user behavior on SNSs by providing knowledge of how specific Facebook activities relate to goals and PWB.",

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note = "Funding Information: Our findings specified six high-level goals on Facebook. Belongingness (G10) is the most centralized ultimate goal, which is supported by several subordinate goals. Catching up on others{\textquoteright} lives (G3) is a fundamental means for users to achieve a sense of community. By catching up on others{\textquoteright} lives on Facebook, users can maintain their social relationships and, ultimately, gain a sense of belongingness. Additionally, catching up on others{\textquoteright} lives on Facebook enables users to maintain connections with weak-tie acquaintances with whom users rarely interact offline; subsequently, users can achieve a sense of belongingness. These findings show that users seek belongingness on Facebook by managing social relationships, including distant relations. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 Elsevier Ltd",

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Exploring associations between young adults’ facebook use and psychological well-being: A goal hierarchy approach

Abstract

Bibliographical note

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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