Frazzled by Facebook? An Exploratory Study of Gender Differences in Social Network Communication among Undergraduate Men and Women

• Published in: College student journal Vol. 46; no. 1; pp. 88 - 98
• Main Authors: Thompson, Sharon H, Lougheed, Eric
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Project Innovation, Inc 01.03.2012; Project Innovation (Alabama)
• Subjects: Addictive Behavior; College Freshmen; College Students; Communication; Computer Mediated Communication; Computer services industry; Expenditures; Friendship; Gender Differences; Human Body; Information technology services industry; Interpersonal relations; Mental Health; Online social networks; Peer Relations; Photography; Self Concept; Services; Sex Differences; Sleep; Social aspects; Social Networks; Stress; Stress Variables; Student Attitudes; Surveys; Time Management; Undergraduate Students; Web 2.0 Technologies; Young Adults; United States
• ISSN: 0146-3934; 2691-3887

Although a majority of young adults are members of at least one social networking site, peer reviewed research examining gender differences in social networking communication is sparse. This study examined gender differences in social networking, particularly for Facebook use, among undergraduates. A survey was distributed to 268 college students who were primarily freshmen (76%), female (53.3%), Caucasian (76.5%) with a mean age of 19.10 years (SD = 2.4). Minutes they reported daily on the internet, social networking, and Facebook were 217.2 (SD = 198.36), 117.2, (SD = 131.7), and 106.8 (SD = 120.3), respectively. Most (94%) had Facebook accounts. For Facebook users, gender differences were examined and females were more likely than males to report spending more time on Facebook than intended (p less than 0.0001); often losing sleep because of Facebook (p less than 0.0001); feeling closer to Facebook friends than those seen daily (p less than 0.0001); that Facebook pictures cause negative self body image (p less than 0.05); that Facebook use sometimes causes stress (p less than 0.05), and sometimes feeling addicted to Facebook (p less than 0.001). This research is important to better understand effect of social networking use on emotional health and to learn ways to help young adults deal with stressors that may accompany social networking use. (Contains 3 tables.)