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LiceoISSN 2094-1064
Journal of Higher Education Research Liceo Journal of Higher Education Research
Online ISSN 2244-0437 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7828/ljher.v13i1.1008
Relationship between Facebook Addiction
and Loneliness of Filipino High School Students
GRETCHEN B. CHAVEZ
ORCID NO. 0000-0002-6207-166X
[email protected] FELIX C. CHAVEZ Jr.
ORCID NO. 0000-0002-5359-5293
[email protected] Brokenshire College
Davao City, Davao del Sur
ABSTRACT
This study determined the relationship between Facebook addiction and
loneliness of Filipino High School students. The descriptive-correlational research
design was utilized in this study. The data were gathered from a total of 112
randomly selected high school students with the use of survey questionnaires.
The mean, frequency and percent, and Pearson product moment correlation were
employed for data analysis. The findings revealed that majority of the students
are non-addicted to Facebook, though there were several students who belong
to risky groups and addicted to the social media. Nevertheless, the overall level
of Facebook addiction and loneliness of students were low. On the other hand,
there is a significant and positive relationship between social media addiction and
loneliness of high school students.
Keywords: Facebook addiction, Loneliness, High school students
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INTRODUCTION
Facebook is a social media site that has been popularly used by teenagers which
allows them to create their own profile, add photos and videos, and communicate
with their friends and family (Rouse, 2014). With the capability of Facebook to
provide a total package that will fit with the interest of the youths, it makes it a
regular site for young people to post their experiences, personal information, and
share information and as well as their emotions (Special & Li-Barber, 2012; Lee
& Ma, 2012).
Even there are lots of personal benefits and advantages of social networking
sites like Facebook, the problems caused by substantial usage and exposure
to social networking sites may have an effect on the real life of a person. In
particular, results of some academic research reveals that adolescents using
Facebook more than three hours for a day will lose their time from their social
and physical activity times which are so essential for their socialization (Baker &
White, 2010). Moreover, the exposure to social media can split the real world to
virtual world. In fact, the study of İsbulan (2011) show that most people have a
preference to communicate with their friends and social environment by using
social networking sites instead of face to face communication.
The process of too much exposure to social media can turn into an addiction
after a while, and it makes user spend more and more time in social networking
sites like Facebook, which may lead to seclusion and a feeling of loneliness
(Kocak, 2003). Loneliness is considered as one of the problems most evident
in relations between persons to its peers which can develop as a psychological
problem at every stage in a person’s life (Karakose, Yircy, and Ozdemir, 2016).
Moreover, loneliness can also lead to negative impact on the physical wellbeing
(Cacioppo & Hawkley, 2009).
One way or another when Facebook is used deliberately, it is an advantageous
social networking site for young people. However, despite the popularity of
social media use, an empirical research locally among Filipinos which examine
addiction to these online social platforms and its relationship with loneliness is
less explored. Hence, the majority of the studies were norms of other countries
like in Turkey (Karakose et al., 2016), Iceland (Ingvadóttir, 2014), and United
States (Shaw, Timpano, Tran, & Joormann, 2015). Meanwhile, the previous
studies have conflicting results as to the relationships of Facebook addiction and
loneliness of students. While the study of Steggink (2015) show a significant
relationship between Facebook addiction and loneliness, but a recent study
of Karakose et al. (2016) reveals no significant relationship between the two
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variables.
With this, it is deemed relevant to study the relationship of Facebook addiction
and loneliness among Filipino High School students as they stay vulnerable and
in a dangerous position in terms of Facebook addiction. Moreover, this study
would also examine whether the relationship of the two variables exists in the
Filipino context.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This study determined the relationship between Facebook addiction and
loneliness level of high school students. In particular, it sought answers to the
following objectives: (1) determine the level of Facebook addiction among
the students; (2) determine the level of the loneliness of the students; and (3)
determine the relationship between Facebook addiction and loneliness level of
the students.
FRAMEWORK
This study is anchored on the notion of Weiss (1973) that loneliness is
frequently precipitated by changes in a person’s social relationships that lead
to a suboptimal level of achieved social interaction. Weiss (1973) added that
physical separation from family and friends puts people at risk for loneliness.
Thus, indicating that lack of physical contact may affect a person’s total network
of social relations. As a matter of fact, even with the use of social media which is
a form non-contact social networking can make a person lonely, unhappy, and
less sociable (Kross et al., 2013).
Another theory of online addiction to which this study is anchored is Caplan’s
(2010) social skill model of generalized problematic Internet use. This model
states that individuals who prefer to communicate in an online environment are
at greater risk of experiencing negative outcomes related to excessive online use.
These individuals, who demonstrate deficient self-regulation of Internet use, tend
to engage in online social communication as a means of escaping from negative
mood states, such as loneliness or anxiety. Communicating online alleviates
negative moods (known as mood alteration), which then reinforces online use.
Given the social focus of SNSs, this theory has the potential to explain SNS
addiction.
Figure 1 shows the conceptual framework illustrating the relationship between
Facebook addiction and loneliness level of students. The independent variable is
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the Facebook addiction which refers to the time spent by the students in this
social media. Typically, it involves a student’s use of Facebook that interferes with
important activities in life such as school work, or maintaining relationships
with family and real friends. On the other hand, the dependent variable is the
loneliness level which refers to the feelings that derive from a sense of isolation
among the students.
Figure 1. Conceptual Framework Showing the Relationship of the Variables
METHODOLOGY
This study utilized the descriptive-correlation research design. The descriptive
research design is used to obtain information concerning the current status
of the phenomena to describe (Shuttleworth, 2008). On the other hand, the
correlational design is used to determine the relationship between two or more
variables (Creswell, 2009). In this study, the levels of Facebook addiction and
loneliness of the students were investigated, and also the relationship between
the two variables.
This study was conducted in Davao City, Philippines. This city is the
commercial center near the country’s highest peak, Mt. Apo. It is the largest city
in the Philippines which is geographically situated in the province of Davao del
Sur.
A total of 119 high school students have participated in this study. The
researchers employed stratified random sampling in selecting the respondents
wherein the researchers divide the entire population into different subgroups
or strata, and then randomly select the final subjects proportionally from the
different strata. The strata were Grade 8, Grade 9, and Grade 10 junior high
school students.
Sets of survey questionnaire were utilized in the study. The Facebook addiction
scale was adopted from Balci and Golcu (2013). On the other hand, the UCLA
Loneliness Scale was used to measure the loneliness levels of the students (Russell
& Ferguson, 1978). The reliability of the scales were .79 and .86, respectively.
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Approval from the Principal and informed consent from the participants were
obtained. After getting the consent, the survey questionnaires were distributed
to the selected respondents. After all the questionnaires were retrieved, the data
were screened, tabulated and analyzed.
Mean was used to determine the levels of Facebook addiction and loneliness
of the students. Pearson product moment correlation was used to determine the
relationship between Facebook addiction and loneliness level of the students.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Facebook Addiction of the Students
Table 1. Level of Facebook Addiction
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Table 1 shows the level of Facebook addiction of the high school students. The
results show that the students believe that they stay on Facebook more than what
they think is enough (M=3.38), which represents the highest mean. Notably, this
is followed by the item “By contacting Facebook, I think that I get out of my
problems, stress, bothers and bans” (M=3.10), which explains why they opt on
staying on Facebook since they can feel relief and dodge from life pressures. On
the other hand, the lowest mean is presented by the item “I tell lies to hide my
spending too many times on Facebook” (M=1.93). This denotes that the students
only sometimes hide their cravings on Facebook. Meanwhile, the overall mean is
2.49, described as “Low.” This means that the high school students’ addiction on
Facebook is sometimes evident. This further indicates that the students have the
ability to deal and resist from Facebook persuasion.
This result is congruent to the findings of Steggink (2015) which reveals in
his survey among 315 Facebook users in Netherlands were having a low level of
Facebook addiction and that the average scores in this study show that only a
minimal part of the respondents are actually Facebook addicted.
Table 2. Dispersion of Participants Facebook Addiction Level
To further explain the results, a dispersion analysis was performed to determine
the Facebook addiction categories of the students. It revealed that majority of the
students are non-addict (f=61, 54.5%), followed the risky groups (f=49, 43.8%),
while only few are addict (f=2, 1.8%).
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Loneliness Level of the Students
Table 3. Loneliness Level of the Students
Table 3 shows the loneliness level of the high school students in Brokenshire
College. The result shows that the students have experienced the highest level
loneliness when they are doing things alone (M =2.63). Interestingly, this is
followed by a related item “I cannot tolerate being so alone” (M=2.50). This
means that the high school students need companionship in all of their activities
to make them feel happy. On the other hand, the students less feel that there
is no one they can turn to (M=1.69). This denotes that the students seek for
the company to be with especially when things are getting rough for them.
Meanwhile, the overall mean is 2.10, described as “Low.” This indicates that the
high school students sometimes feel that they are lonely. Further, this shows that
the students’ depiction of loneliness is when they feel isolated and away from
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their significant others.
This result is aligned with the study of Gursoy et al. (2006) which revealed in
their survey of 300 respondents in Turkey that the average loneliness level is low
among high school students. Furthermore, the students’ feel lonely if they do not
have contact with family and friends.
Relationship between Facebook Addiction and Loneliness Level of Students
Table 4. Relationship between Facebook Addiction and Loneliness
Level of Students
Table 4 shows the correlation analysis which purpose is to show the significance
of the relationship between Facebook addiction and loneliness level. The result
shows that there is a significant relationship between Facebook addiction and
loneliness level of the students (R=.205, p<.05). In other words, the increase
in Facebook addiction would also increase the feeling of loneliness among the
students. This feeling of loneliness when a person became addicted to Facebook
can be attributed to the lack of personal contact with real friends in the virtual
environment. Thus, they are detached from the physical world which made them
a desire for company. This is reinforced by the loneliness survey results in which
the high school students do not want to be alone, and they want to be with their
friends. Hence, the students are using Facebook only to avoid life pressures such
as problems, stress, and anything that bothers them.
This result is consistent with the study of Skues, Williams, and Wise (2012)
in their study about personality traits and loneliness on Facebook use. They
found that higher loneliness levels were associated with having more friends on
Facebook. Moreover, a prior study from Ryan & Xenos, (2011) revealed that
Facebook users have, on a significant level, higher levels of family loneliness than
non-users.
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CONCLUSION
The findings of the study suggest that most high school students are not
addicted to Facebook, but there is the threat of addiction among the high-risk
groups. On the other hand, most of the high school students feel less lonely in
their life. However, those lonely students tend to spend more time on Facebook.
Moreover, the greater is the level of addiction, the more that it could increase the
level of the loneliness of the students.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Future studies are focusing on construct development for Facebook addiction
and loneliness levels to investigate the factor structure of the Filipino norms.
Moreover, a study may be conducted to determine the loneliness and another
well- being measures on those students who are high risk and those who are
already addicted to Facebook.
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