Facebook False Self-Presentation Behaviors and Negative Mental Health

• Published in: Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 40
• Main Authors: Wright, Elizabeth J, White, Katherine M, Obst, Patricia L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2018
• Subjects: false self-presentation; norms; Facebook; mental health
• ISSN: 2152-2723
• DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2016.0647

As research examining what constitutes Facebook false self-presentation is lacking, the aim of this study was to develop a preliminary inventory of Facebook false self-presentation behaviors, as well as identify predictors and possible outcomes. Participants (N = 211) completed questions regarding frequency of engagement in Facebook false self-presentation behaviors, as well as self-esteem, social influences, motivation strategies, well-being, depression, anxiety, and stress. Results indicated the presence of two distinct false self-presentation behaviors: lying (e.g., untruthful status updates, profile creation) and liking behaviors (e.g., liking posts dishonestly), each associated with different predictors and outcomes. Results indicated that moral norms significantly predicted lying behaviors; and age, self-esteem, group norms, and moral norms significantly predicted liking behaviors. Unexpectedly, liking behaviors were associated with depression, anxiety, and stress, whereas lying behaviors were related to anxiety only. Findings highlight associations between online self-presentation strategies, in particular liking behaviors, on Facebook and possible offline negative mental health.