The role of social and emotional loneliness in problematic facebook use

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between problematic Facebook use and social and emotional loneliness among Turkish university students. The study was carried out with 259 (140 women, 119 men, Mage = 20.85 years, SD = 1.55, and age range: 18-29) Anadolu University students. Participants completed the Turkish version of Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, The Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale. The research data were analysed by correlation and stepwise regression analysis. Problematic Facebook use was found correlated positively with social, familial, and romantic loneliness. In addition, Problematic Facebook use was predicted by the number of participants’ Facebook friends, but was not predicted by participants’ real friends number. The findings were discussed with The Social Compensation Theory and other related literatures.