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

Yoonhyuk Jung, Suzanne D. Pawlowski and Hee-Woong Kim

International Journal of Information Management, 2017, vol. 37, issue 1, 1391-1404

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.

Keywords: Psychological well-being; Goal hierarchy; Social network sites; Mixed-method research; Young adults; Facebook use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ininma:v:37:y:2017:i:1:p:1391-1404

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2016.10.005

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