Psychological Predictors of Facebook Usage and Subjective Well-Being among Adolescents

This study examined the relationship of the psychological predictors such as loneliness, depression and social support to Facebook usage and well-being. The profile of the respondents was taken into account specific to year level and sex. The sample was composed of 537 adolescents in grades 7 to 10. This quantitative research utilized five different scales relevant to each variables being tested. In analyzing the results, descriptive data and regression analysis were used. The results showed that the students‘ scores in the variables are in a normal distribution except for well-being, which also got the highest mean that implies that these students perceived happiness in different domains of their life. The respondents have felt social support and the respondents‘ Facebook usage can be seen as they are giving importance to that particular social media as part of their activity; while loneliness and depression‘s means draw an impression that they are struggling a little. When taken per year level and sex, the results gives information that grade 8, male respondents are less lonely and less Facebook users, grade 8, female respondents experience high social support and well-being which contributes to better emotional states they have compared to others, grade 9, male respondents shows lesser feeling of depression while grade 9, female respondents are the loneliest. Lastly, grade 10, male students have greater social support and grade 10, female respondents are more depressed, most active Facebook user and lowest level of well-being which suggests that they can be the most vulnerable group. Furthermore, the study found out that the psychological predictors namely loneliness, depression and social support predicts both Facebook usage and well-being but Facebook usage is not associated to the respondents‘ well-being. Among these results, the program and module to be given to the students can be based here, but still they can all be given the same activities because it is evident that all of the respondents got average in all the areas and the program can be an enhancement of what is insufficient.