Exploring the Relationships Between Different Types of Facebook Use, Perceived Online Social Support and Adolescents’ Depressed Mood

• In Event: Finding Myself, for Better or Worse: Adolescents and Media

Abstract

The current study examined the relationships between different types of Facebook use, perceived online social support, and adolescents’ depressed mood (N = 910). Structural equation modeling showed that active and passive Facebook use are differentially related to boys’ and girls’ depressed mood. First, active public Facebook increased boys’ depressed mood, whereas passive Facebook use enhanced girls’ depressed mood. Second, perceived online social support significantly mediated the relationship between both types of active Facebook use (i.e., active private and public Facebook use) and girls’ depressed mood. More specifically, active Facebook use increased girls’ perceived online social support, which in turn decreased girls’ depressed mood. The discussion focuses on the understanding and explanation of these findings, limitations, and directions for future research.

Authors

• Eline Frison, U of Leuven - School for Mass Communication Research

• Steven Eggermont, U of Leuven - School for Mass Communication Research