Lonely people are no longer lonely on social networking sites: the mediating role of self-disclosure and social support

Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2013 Jun;16(6):413-8. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2012.0553. Epub 2013 Apr 27.

Abstract

Most previous studies assert the negative effect of loneliness on social life and an individual's well-being when individuals use the Internet. To expand this previous research tradition, the current study proposes a model to test whether loneliness has a direct or indirect effect on well-being when mediated by self-disclosure and social support. The results show that loneliness has a direct negative impact on well-being but a positive effect on self-disclosure. While self-disclosure positively influences social support, self-disclosure has no impact on well-being, and social support positively influences well-being. The results also show a full mediation effect of social support in the self-disclosure to well-being link. The results imply that even if lonely people's well-being is poor, their well-being can be enhanced through the use of SNSs, including self-presentation and social support from their friends.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Friends / psychology
  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Loneliness / psychology*
  • Male
  • Personal Satisfaction
  • Self Disclosure*
  • Social Networking*
  • Social Support*