Loneliness and Facebook motives in adolescence: A longitudinal inquiry into directionality of effect
Abstract
The increasing popularity of Facebook among adolescents has stimulated research to investigate the relationship between Facebook use and loneliness, which is particularly prevalent in adolescence. The aim of the present study was to improve our understanding of the relationship between Facebook use and loneliness. Specifically, we examined how Facebook motives and two relationship-specific forms of adolescent loneliness are associated longitudinally. Cross-lagged analysis based on data from 256 adolescents (64% girls, M(age) = 15.88 years) revealed that peer-related loneliness was related over time to using Facebook for social skills compensation, reducing feelings of loneliness, and having interpersonal contact. Facebook use for making new friends reduced peer-related loneliness over time, whereas Facebook use for social skills compensation increased peer-related loneliness over time. Hence, depending on adolescents' Facebook motives, either the displacement or the stimulation hypothesis is supported. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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Individuals who use social media to build social connection experience reductions in loneliness, whereas increases tend to be observed in those who resort to digital media as a coping mechanism.
“Individuals who use social media to build social connection in this way experience reductions in loneliness, whereas increases tend to be observed in those who resort to digital media as a coping mechanism. 20 , 21”
From Social media use, online experiences, and loneliness among young adults: A cohort study (2025) · cites this paper as [21]
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Social media use, online experiences, and loneliness among young adults: A cohort study
Matthews, T., Arseneault, L., Bryan, B. T., Fisher, H. L., Gray, R., Henchy, J., Moffitt, T. E., & Odgers, C. L. (2025) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/nyas.15370 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
- Authors
- Teppers, E., Luyckx, K., A. Klimstra, T., & Goossens, L.
- Affiliations
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Department Developmental Psychology Tilburg University The Netherlands
- Corresponding author
- Teppers, Eveline
- Venue
- Journal of Adolescence
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-12-08
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 691-699
- ISSN
- 0140-1971 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9254
- OpenAlex
- W2076304933
- Cited by
- 217
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 4
- FWCI
- 24.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Adolescence (publishedVersion)
- Research portal (Tilburg University) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Lirias (KU Leuven) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
- Keywords
- loneliness, Facebook use, adolescent loneliness, displacement theory, online social networking, interpersonal contact
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Age Factors, Attitude, Female, Humans, Loneliness, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Motivation, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time Factors, Young Adult, Social Media
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