Depends on how you use it : a review of research on relationship between Facebook usage and psychological well-being

Abstract

The question of whether the influence of Facebook usage on psychological well-being is detrimental or beneficial is becoming increasingly pertinent with the prevalent usage and expanding popularity of Facebook. To better understand the relationship between Facebook use and psychological well-being, we review existing literature in accordance to the constituents of psychological well-being. The 5 dimensions we have identified are: (1) Depression, (2) Self-Esteem, (3) Life Satisfaction, (4) Happiness and (5) Perceived Social Support. Review of the current literature has revealed that passive Facebook usage is associated with depressive symptoms while active Facebook usage is positively correlated with depression if there is an increase in rumination. Other factors such as the quality of interactions and satisfaction with social support were also found to be associated with depression. Self-esteem is generally found to have a positive association with increased Facebook usage, unless the user possesses a low self-esteem and does not use Facebook in a positive manner. Active Facebook usage is generally associated with greater life satisfaction while passive Facebook usage is associated with a decrease in life satisfaction. Happiness is generally increased in conjunction with increased usage but not under specific conditions. Perceived social support generally increases with the increase of social networks on Facebook. State of research, methodological issues and recommendations for future studies will be discussed.