Investigating the impact of Facebook activity, Time Spent on Facebook, Facebook addiction, and Emotional value on Life satisfaction

Background: So far, research investigating the effect of Social network Sites (SNS) usage and addiction on life satisfaction has been inconclusive while the evidence on problematic use shows a negative effect. In the current study, we examine the effect of Facebook usage and duration on life satisfaction by introducing Facebook addiction (negative consequence of use) in concurrence with perceived emotional value (positive consequence of use) as mediators. Method: UK Facebook users (n=551, age M = 26.1, SD = 4.8, 51% Female), participated in a
online survey about Facebook use scoring Facebook time spent (TS), Facebook Activity (FA), Facebook addiction (BFAS), Satisfaction with Life (SWLS), and perceived emotional value (PEV). Our PLS-model reveals an overall significant positive total effect of TS and FA on SWLS, whereas the effect of FA is mediated by the indirect paths than run via BFAS, PEV. The effect of TS is mediated by PEV and via FA itself. It shows that the direct significant negative effect of BFAS on SWLS is compensated by the direct significant positive effects of PEV on
SWLS. Conclusions: Our finding supports the view that Facebook addiction resulting from Facebook usage influences well-being negatively, but that such an effect can be compensated by positive outcomes of Facebook usage like perceived emotional value.

Trefwoorden:social network sites, Facebook addiction, Social media, Life satisfaction, Well-being