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An experimental study of the withdrawal influence from facebook to psychological distress, life satisfaction, loneliness and perceived social support
Author(s)
Date Issued
2016
Publisher
Hong Kong: Hong Kong Shue Yan University
Description
Hong Kong Shue Yan University. Dept. of Counselling and Psychology.
Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.) -- Hong Kong Shue Yan University, 2016.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 52-62, 85).
xiii, 91 p.
Type
Thesis
Programme
Master of Social Sciences in Counselling Psychology
Abstract
Social network site (SNS), Facebook, provides an easily accessible and convenient way in social interaction. Overuse of Facebook leads to an impairment of human’s psychological health. The purpose of this study was to examine the withdrawal influences from Facebook to psychological distress, life satisfaction, loneliness, and perceived social support among young adults in Hong Kong. In order to test the proposed hypothesis, this study consists of two parts: (a) 24-hour experimental deactivation study and (b) Longitudinal case study. There were 30 participants in the 24-hour experimental deactivation study and another 3 participants were invited to join the longitudinal case study. In the experimental study, participants were asked to deactivate their Facebook account for 24 hours. Self-administrated questionnaires were administered before and after the process. The withdrawal from Facebook increases anxiety, loneliness, perceived social support from family and perceived social support from significant others. A follow up case study was conducted to deactivate participants’ Facebook accounts for 72 hours. Self-administrated questionnaires were administered before and after every 24 hours
for three times. Structured interviews were conducted afterwards to understand their experiences
and impacts during deactivation period. The findings showed that withdrawal from Facebook
increased anxiety of being excluded and loneliness. It also increased interaction with family
members and significant others. In conclusion, reduction in the usage of Facebook is beneficial
to humans’ perceived social support in their daily lives.
Availability at HKSYU Library
