Facebook's Contribution to Well-being among Adolescent and Young Adults as a Function of Mental Resilience

ABSTRACT

Studies of correlations between general internet use and psychological well-being have shown mixed results. The present study aimed to elucidate the relationship between Facebook use and psychological well-being, with mental resilience expected to moderate the relationship. Two hundred Israeli adolescents and young adults completed questionnaires assessing their Facebook use, mental resilience, and psychological well-being. Results showed that Facebook use was positively correlated with psychological well-being, and that this relationship was particularly strong for participants with low mental resilience. The findings support a positive effect of Facebook use as providing a virtual supportive community for individuals who may lack the social skills needed to develop social capital and confidence through traditional communication paths.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• Facebook
• mental resilience
• social networks
• well-being

Acknowledgments

We thank the youth community members who participated in this study.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ido Ziv

Author Notes

Ido Ziv is an assistant professor at the College of Management Academic Studies. His research interests are Anxiety and stressful situations, mental resilience, Parental Attendance and skills, Social cognition, and Naïve theories.

Mali Kiassi is working at the learning disabilities diagnosis and intervention Hadad center in the Bar Ilan University. She leads educational staff while developing interventions programs for learning deficits children and adolescents. Her research interests are social media and language development with special care for low socio-economic population.