Social Network Site Use and Loneliness in Adolescents: A Chain Mediation Analysis

Abstract

Abstract: To investigate the relationship among social network site use, online positive feedback, friendship quality and loneliness, a survey research method was adopted in which SNS use Intensity Scale, SNS Positive Feedback Questionnaire, Friendship Quality Scale as well as UCLA Loneliness were administered to 538 middle and high school students. The results indicated: 1)social network site use was positively related to online positive feedback and friendship quality, while social network site use, online positive feedback and friendship quality were all negatively associated with loneliness; social network site use intensity had no direct effect on loneliness, but could significantly predict online positive feedback; online positive feedback could significantly predict friendship quality; and both online positive feedback and friendship quality could significantly predict loneliness. 2)social network site use influenced adolescents′ loneliness through two indirect paths: through the mediating role of online positive feedback; through the chain mediating role of online positive feedback and friendship quality.
The present study highlights the benefits of positive feedback in social network site. Social network site use itself did not have direct effects on friendship and loneliness, but it could predict friendship and loneliness through the mediation of online positive feedback. Thus, to promote adolescents′ friendship quality and lower their loneliness, parents and schools may consider encouraging adolescent to use social network site to disclosure more information, make more honest self-presentation and positive self-presentation which will contribute to receiving more positive feedback.

Key words: social network site use, online positive feedback, friendship quality, loneliness, adolescents.

摘要： 为探讨社交网站使用、线上积极反馈、友谊质量和青少年孤独感的关系，采用社交网站使用强度问卷、线上积极反馈问卷、友谊质量量表和孤独感量表对538名中学生进行调查，结果发现：（1）社交网站使用与线上积极反馈和友谊质量都呈显著正相关，而与孤独感显著负相关，线上积极反馈与友谊质量显著正相关，而且两者都与孤独感显著负相关；（2）社交网站使用对孤独感没有直接的预测作用，但能通过两条路径的间接作用影响青少年孤独感：通过线上积极反馈的中介作用；通过线上积极反馈和友谊质量的链式中介作用。研究结果揭示了社交网站使用对青少年孤独感的影响及其作用机制，能为网络时代的青少年降低孤独感提供有益启示。

关键词: 社交网站使用, 孤独感, 线上积极反馈, 友谊质量, 青少年

CLC Number:

B846

Zhou Zongkui, Liu Qingqi, Yang Xiujuan, Sun Xiaojun. Social Network Site Use and Loneliness in Adolescents: A Chain Mediation Analysis[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2017, 15(2): 155-161.

周宗奎, 刘庆奇, 杨秀娟, 孙晓军. 社交网站使用对青少年孤独感的影响：链式中介效应分析*[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2017, 15(2): 155-161.

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