The relationship between social media usage and loneliness among younger and older adults: the moderating effect of shyness.
Loneliness
Older adults
Shyness
Social media usage
Journal
BMC psychology
ISSN: 2050-7283
Titre abrégé: BMC Psychol
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101627676
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 Jun 2024
11 Jun 2024
Historique:
received:
28
01
2024
accepted:
11
04
2024
medline:
12
6
2024
pubmed:
12
6
2024
entrez:
11
6
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Does social media alleviate or exacerbate loneliness? Past research has shown mixed results regarding the relationship between social media usage and loneliness among younger and older adults. Unlike younger individuals, older adults may decrease their loneliness through social media interactions. Additionally, previous research has indicated that the link between social media use and loneliness can vary depending on one's shy tendency. Therefore, this study aims to explore the relationship between individuals' social media use and loneliness while considering age and shyness tendency as moderating variables. The study employed a questionnaire survey conducted through convenience sampling, resulting in 234 valid responses from participants in Northern Taiwan. Among them, 113 were college students (aged 18 to 25, average age 19.40), and 121 were older adults (aged 50 to 82, average age 60.81). Using hierarchical regression analysis, results indicated that (1) age moderates the relationship between personal social media use and loneliness. Minimal differences were observed among younger individuals, but among older adults, increased social media usage time was associated with a significant reduction in loneliness. (2) Shyness tendency moderate the relationship between personal social media use and loneliness. Individuals with higher shyness tendency experience an increase in loneliness as their social media usage time lengthens.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38863021
doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-01727-4
pii: 10.1186/s40359-024-01727-4
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
343Subventions
Organisme : Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan
ID : MOST 109-2628-H-003-002-MY3
Informations de copyright
© 2024. The Author(s).
Références
InsightXplorer. Taiwan Internet Report 2018. In.; 2018.
Lee E, Lee JA, Moon JH, Sung Y. Pictures speak louder than words: motivations for using Instagram. Cyberpsychology Behav Soc Netw. 2015;18(9):552–6.
doi: 10.1089/cyber.2015.0157
Lup K, Trub L, Rosenthal L. Among Instagram Use, depressive symptoms, Negative Social Comparison, and strangers followed. Cyberpsychology Behav Soc Netw. 2015;18(5):247–52.
doi: 10.1089/cyber.2014.0560
Ting H, Ming WWP, de Run EC, Choo SLY. Beliefs about the use of Instagram: an exploratory study. Int J Bus Innov. 2015;2(2):15–31.
Sheldon P, Antony MG, Ware LJ. Baby Boomers’ use of Facebook and Instagram: uses and gratifications theory and contextual age indicators. Heliyon 2021, 7(4).
Agur C, Frisch N. Digital Disobedience and the limits of persuasion: Social Media Activism in Hong Kong’s 2014 Umbrella Movement. Soc Med Soc 2019, 5(1).
Tsatsou P. Social Media and Informal Organisation of Citizen activism: lessons from the Use of Facebook in the sunflower Movement. Soc Med Soc 2018, 4(1).
Kross E, Verduy P, Demiralp E, Park J, Lee DS, Lin N, Shablack H, Jonides J, Ybarra O, Sueur C. Facebook use predicts declines in subjective well-being in young adults. PLoS ONE 2013, 8(8).
Matsuba MK. Searching for self and relationships online. Cyberpsychology Behav Soc Netw. 2006;9(3):275–84.
doi: 10.1089/cpb.2006.9.275
Luhmann M, Hawkley LC. Age differences in loneliness from late adolescence to oldest old age. Dev Psychol. 2016;52(6):943–59.
pubmed: 27148782
pmcid: 8015413
doi: 10.1037/dev0000117
Qualter P, Vanhalst J, Harris R, Van Roekel E, Lodder G, Bangee Maes M, Verhagen M. Loneliness across the life span. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2015;10(2):250–64.
pubmed: 25910393
doi: 10.1177/1745691615568999
Jung EH, Walden J, Johnson AC, Sundar SS. Social networking in the aging context: why older adults use or avoid Facebook. Telematics Inform. 2017;34(7):1071–80.
doi: 10.1016/j.tele.2017.04.015
Cheek JM, Buss AH. Shyness and sociability. J Personal Soc Psychol. 1981;41(2):330–9.
doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.41.2.330
WH J, SR B. Shyness: conceptualization and measurement. J Personal Soc Psychol. 1986;51(3):629–39.
doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.51.3.629
Frison E, Eggermont S. Toward an integrated and differential approach to the relationships between loneliness, different types of Facebook use, and adolescents’ depressed mood. Commun Res 2015.
Sheldon P. Profiling the non-users: examination of life-position indicators, sensation seeking, shyness, and loneliness among users and non-users of social network sites. Comput Hum Behav. 2012;28(5):1960–5.
doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2012.05.016
Gil de Zuniga H, Diehl T, Huber B, Liu J. Personality traits and social media use in 20 countries: how personality relates to frequency of social media use, social media news use, and social media use for social interaction. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2017;20(9):540–52.
pubmed: 28922034
doi: 10.1089/cyber.2017.0295
Peplau LA, Perlman D. Loneliness:a sourcebook of current theory. research, and therapy: Wiley; 1982.
Reichmann FF, Loneliness. Psychiatry Res. 1959;22(1):1–15.
Suedfeld P. Aloneness as a healing experience. In: Loneliness: A Sourcebook of Current Theory, Research and Therapy edn. Edited by Peplau L, Perlman D: Wiley and Sons; 1982: 54–67.
Zilboorg G. Loneliness. Atl Monthly. 1938;161:45–54.
Weiss RS. Loneliness: the experience of emotional and social isolation. MIT Press; 1973.
Parker JG, Asher SR. Friendship and friendship quality in middle childhood: links with peer group acceptance and feelings of loneliness and social dissatisfaction. Dev Psychol. 1993;29(4):611–21.
doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.29.4.611
Crone EA, Dahl RE. Understanding adolescence as a period of social–affective engagement and goal flexibility. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2012;13(9):636.
pubmed: 22903221
doi: 10.1038/nrn3313
Gifford-Smith ME, Brownell CA. Childhood peer relationships: social acceptance, friendships, and peer networks. J Sch Psychol. 2003;41(4):235–84.
doi: 10.1016/S0022-4405(03)00048-7
Collins WA, Welsh DP, Furman W. Adolescent romantic relationships. Annu Rev Psychol. 2009;60:631–52.
pubmed: 19035830
doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.60.110707.163459
Dush CMK, Amato PR. Consequences of relationship status and quality for subjective well-being. J Soc Pers Relatsh. 2005;22(5):607–27.
doi: 10.1177/0265407505056438
Flora J, Segrin C. Relationship development in dating couples: implications for relational satisfaction and loneliness. J Soc Pers Relatsh. 2000;17(6):811–25.
doi: 10.1177/0265407500176006
Diener E, Gohm CL, Suh E, Oishi S. Similarity of the relations between marital status and subjective well-being across cultures. J Cross-Cult Psychol. 2000;31(4):419–36.
doi: 10.1177/0022022100031004001
Dykstra PA, van Tilburg TG, Gierveld JJ. Changes in older adult loneliness: results from a seven-year longitudinal study. Res Aging. 2005;27(6):725–47.
doi: 10.1177/0164027505279712
Courtin E, Knapp M. Social isolation, loneliness and health in old age: ascoping review. Health Soc Care Community. 2017;25(3):799–812.
pubmed: 26712585
doi: 10.1111/hsc.12311
Theeke LA. Sociodemographic and health-related risks for loneliness andoutcome differences by loneliness status in a sample of U.S. older adults. Res Gerontol Nurs. 2010;3(2):113–25.
pubmed: 20415360
doi: 10.3928/19404921-20091103-99
Victor CR, Scambler SJ, Bowling ANN, Bond J. The prevalence of, and risk factors for, loneliness in later life: a survey of older people in Great Britain. Ageing Soc. 2005;25(6):357–75.
doi: 10.1017/S0144686X04003332
Russell DW. UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3): reliability, validity, and factor structure. J Pers Assess. 1996;66(1):20–40.
pubmed: 8576833
doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa6601_2
DiTommaso E, Spinner B. The development and initial validation of the Social and emotional loneliness scale for adults (SELSA). Personal Individ Differ. 1993;14(1):127–34.
doi: 10.1016/0191-8869(93)90182-3
DiTommaso E, Brannen C, Best LA. Measurement and validity characteristics of the short version of the social and emotional loneliness scale for adults. Educ Psychol Meas. 2004;64(1):99–119.
doi: 10.1177/0013164403258450
Letts CA. Loneliness, social provisions and desire for control among older Adults. Canada: Dissertation, University of New Brunswick; 1997.
Victor CR, Yang K. The prevalence of loneliness among adults: a case study of the United Kingdom. J Psychol. 2012;146(1–2):85–104.
pubmed: 22303614
doi: 10.1080/00223980.2011.613875
Deters FG, Mehl MR. Does posting Facebook status updates increase or decrease loneliness? An online social networking experiment. Soc Psychol Personal Sci 2013, 4(5).
Burke M, Kraut RE. The relationship between Facebook use and well-being depends on communication type and tie strength. J Comput-Mediat Commun. 2016;21(4):265–81.
doi: 10.1111/jcc4.12162
Burke M. Reading, writing, relationships: the impact of social network sites on relationships and well-being. Carnegie Mellon University; 2011.
DS PV, O LJPHSAOJB. Passive Facebook usage undermines affective well-being: experimental and longitudinal evidence. J Exp Psychol-Gen. 2015;144(2):480.
doi: 10.1037/xge0000057
Tandoc EC, Ferrucci P, Duffy M. Facebook use, envy, and depression among college students: is facebooking depressing?Comput hum Behav 2015, 43:139–46.
Guo Y, Li Y, Ito N. Exploring the predicted effect of social networking site use on perceived social capital and psychological well-being of Chinese international students in Japan. Cyberpsychology Behav Soc Netw. 2014;17(1):52–8.
doi: 10.1089/cyber.2012.0537
Nowland R, Necka EA, Cacioppo JT. Loneliness and social internet use: pathways to reconnection in a digital world? Perspect Psychol Sci. 2018;13(1):70–87.
pubmed: 28937910
doi: 10.1177/1745691617713052
Ozimek P, Bierhoff HW. Facebook use depending on age: the influence of social comparisons. Comput Hum Behav. 2016;61:271–9.
doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2016.03.034
Lemieux R, Lajoie S, Trainor NE. Affinity-seeking, social loneliness, and social avoidance among Facebook users. Psychol Rep. 2013;112(2):545–52.
pubmed: 23833882
doi: 10.2466/07.PR0.112.2.545-552
Festinger L. A theory of cognitive dissonance. Volume 2. Stanford University Press; 1962.
Guernsey L. Garbled in translation: Getting Media Research to the Press and Public. J Child Media. 2014;8(1):87–94.
doi: 10.1080/17482798.2014.863486
Blomfield Neira CJ, Barber BL. Social networking site use: linked to adolescents’ social self-concept, self-esteem, and depressed mood. Aust J Psychol. 2014;66(1):56–64.
doi: 10.1111/ajpy.12034
Peper E. R Harvey 2018 Digital addiction: increased loneliness, anxiety, and depression. NeuroRegulation 5 1 3–8.
doi: 10.15540/nr.5.1.3
Chen JI. An analysis on the relationship between the Use of Internet and Social Loneliness for College Students. Chin Annu Rep Guid Couns. 2003;14:63–88.
McAndrew FT, Jeong HS. Who does what on Facebook? Age, sex, and relationship status as predictors of Facebook use. Comput Hum Behav. 2012;28(6):2359–65.
doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2012.07.007
Chopik WJ. The benefits of social technology use among older adults are mediated by reduced loneliness. Cyberpsychology Behav Soc Netw. 2016;19(9):551–6.
doi: 10.1089/cyber.2016.0151
Krueger KR, Wilson RS, Kamenetsky JM, Barnes LL, Bienias JL, Bennett DA. Social engagement and cognitive function in old age. Exp Aging Res. 2009;35(1):45–60.
pubmed: 19173101
pmcid: 2758920
doi: 10.1080/03610730802545028
Choi M, Kong S, Jung D. Computer and internet interventions for loneliness and depression in older adults: a meta-analysis. Healthc Inf Res. 2012;18(3):191–8.
doi: 10.4258/hir.2012.18.3.191
Tsai HH, Tsai YF. Changes in depressive symptoms, social support, and loneliness over 1 year after a minimum 3-month videoconference program for older nursing home residents. J Med Internet Res 2011, 13(4).
Erickson J, Johnson GM. Nternet use and psychological wellness during late adulthood. Can J Aging-Rev Can Vieil. 2011;30(2):197–209.
doi: 10.1017/S0714980811000109
Sum S, Mathews RM, Hughes I, Campbell A. Internet use and loneliness in older adults. Cyberpsychology Behav Soc Netw. 2008;11(2):208–11.
doi: 10.1089/cpb.2007.0010
Cotten SR, Anderson WA, McCullough BM. Impact of internet use on loneliness and contact with others among older adults: cross-sectional analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2013;15(2):e2306.
doi: 10.2196/jmir.2306
Fokkema T, Knipscheer K. Escape loneliness by going digital: a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a Dutch experiment in using ECT to overcome loneliness among older adults. Aging Ment Health. 2007;11(5):496–504.
pubmed: 17882587
doi: 10.1080/13607860701366129
Shapira N, Barak A, Gal I. Promoting older adults’ well-being through internet training and use. Aging Ment Health. 2007;11(5):477–84.
pubmed: 17882585
doi: 10.1080/13607860601086546
Zimbardo PG, Pilkonis PA, Norwood R. The silent prison of shyness (ONR tech. Rep. Stanford University; 1974. pp. Z–17.
Alden L, Cappe R. Interpersonal Process Training for Shy Clients. In: Shyness: Perspectives on Research and Treatment edn. Edited by WH Jones JCSB: Springer US; 1986: 343–355.
Crozier WR. Shyness and social relationships: Continuity and change. In: Shyness: Development, consolidation and change edn. Edited by Crozier W: Routledge; 2000: 1–21.
O’Shaughnessy J, O’Shaughnessy NJ. The marketing power of emotion. Oxford University Press; 2002.
Li C, Shi X, Dang J. Online communication and subjective well-being in Chinese college students: the mediating role of shyness and social self-efficacy. Comput Hum Behav. 2014;34:89–95.
doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2014.01.032
Wang J, Zhao J, Wang Y. Self-efficacy mediates the association between shyness and subjective well-being: the case of Chinese college students. Soc Indic Res. 2014;119(1):341–51.
doi: 10.1007/s11205-013-0487-4
Zhao J, Kong F, Wang Y. Shyness and subjective well-being: the role of emotional intelligence and social support. Soc Indic Res. 2013;114(3):891–900.
doi: 10.1007/s11205-012-0178-6
Bian M, Leung L. Linking loneliness, shyness, smartphone addiction symptoms, and patterns of smartphone use to social capital. Soc Sci Comput Rev. 2015;33(1):61–79.
doi: 10.1177/0894439314528779
Satici SA. Facebook addiction and subjective well-being: a study of the mediating role of shyness and loneliness. Int J Mental Health Addict. 2018;17(1):41–55.
doi: 10.1007/s11469-017-9862-8
Ryan T, Xenos S. Who uses Facebook? An investigation into the relationship between the Big Five, shyness, narcissism, loneliness, and Facebook usage. Comput Hum Behav. 2011;27(5):1658–64.
doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2011.02.004
Zhou Z, Xu K, Zhao J. Extroverts tweet differently from introverts in Weibo. EPJ Data Sci. 2018;7(1):1–22.
doi: 10.1140/epjds/s13688-018-0146-8
Asendorpf JB, Wilpers S. Personality effects on social relationships. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1998;74(6):1531–44.
doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.74.6.1531
Nunnally J. Psychometric methods. McGraw-Hill; 1978.
Kaiser HF. An index of factorial simplicity. Psychometrika. 1974;39(1):31–6.
doi: 10.1007/BF02291575
Bartlett MS. Tests of significance in factor analysis. Br J Stat Psychol. 1950;3(2):77–85.
doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8317.1950.tb00285.x
Pett MA, Lackey NR, Sullivan JJ. Making sense of factor analysis: the use of factor analysis for instrument development in health care research. Sage; 2003.
Browne MW, Cudeck R. Alternative ways of assessing model fit. Sociol Methods Res. 1992;21(2):230–58.
doi: 10.1177/0049124192021002005
Jöreskog KG, Sörbom D. LISREL7: a guide to the program and applications. SPSS; 1989.
Jackson DL, Gillaspy JJA, Purc-Stephenson R. Reporting practices in confirmatory factor analysis: an overview and some recommendations. Psychol Methods. 2009;14(1):6.
pubmed: 19271845
doi: 10.1037/a0014694
Anderson JC, Gerbing DW. Structural equation modeling in practice: a review and recommended two-step approach. Psychol Bull. 1988;103(3):411–23.
doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.103.3.411
Bagozzi RP, Yi Y. On the evaluation of structural equation models. J Acad Mark Sci. 1988;16(1):74–94.
doi: 10.1007/BF02723327
Heo J, Chun S, Lee S, Lee KH, Kim J. Internet use and well-being in older adults. Cyberpsychology Behav Soc Netw. 2015;18(5):268–72.
doi: 10.1089/cyber.2014.0549
Khalaila R, Vitman-Schorr A. Internet use, social networks, loneliness, and quality of life among adults aged 50 and older: mediating and moderating effects. Qual Life Res. 2018;27(2):479–89.
pubmed: 29210015
doi: 10.1007/s11136-017-1749-4
Lou LL, Yan Z, Nickerson A, McMorris R. An examination of the reciprocal relationship of loneliness and Facebook use among first-year college students. J Educ Comput Res. 2012;46(1):105–17.
doi: 10.2190/EC.46.1.e
Thayer SE, Ray S. Online communication preferences across age, gender, and duration of internet use. Cyberpsychology Behav Soc Netw. 2006;9(4):432–40.
doi: 10.1089/cpb.2006.9.432
Zickuhr K, Madden M. Older adults and internet use. Pew Internet Am Life Project. 2012;6:1–23.
Kim C, Shen C. Connecting activities on Social Network Sites and life satisfaction: a comparison of older and younger users. Comput Hum Behav 2020, 105.
Chou HTG, Edge N. They are happier and having better lives than I am: the impact of using Facebook on perceptions of others’ lives. Cyberpsychology Behav Soc Netw. 2012;15(2):117–21.
doi: 10.1089/cyber.2011.0324
Steers MLN, Wickham RE, Acitelli LK. Seeing everyone else’s highlight reels: how Facebook usage is linked to depressive symptoms. J Soc Clin Psychol. 2014;33(8):701–31.
doi: 10.1521/jscp.2014.33.8.701
Phu B, Gow AJ. Facebook use and its association with subjective happiness and loneliness. Comput Hum Behav. 2019;92:151–9.
doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2018.11.020
Smith A, Anderson M. Social Media Use in 2018 [Monograph]. In.; 2018.
Brenk-Franz K, Strauss B, Tiesler F, Fleischhauer C, Ciechanowski P, Schneider N, Gensichen J. The influence of adult attachment on patient self-management in primary care - the need for a Personalized Approach and patient-centred care. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(9):e0136723.
pubmed: 26381140
pmcid: 4575213
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136723