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.
